Monday, October 28, 2013

Autumn, Bah!

The leaves shuffled and crunched
around my feet, left silhouettes
chalk-outlines on the cement.

The wind shoved through trees,
grabbed leaves from the ground
spun them up invisible staircases.

Birds chattered like spring;
there were even some tardy
purple azaleas lining raked lawns.

It was crisp sunshine. Somewhere
pretty children were modeling
Halloween costumes and perfect smiles,

swinging between model mothers
and fathers: uncomplicated
picture of nuclear autumn.

The whole neighborhood
wouldn’t shut-up: a miserably
picturesque bustle of October.

I kicked at the leaves,
bit my lip and prayed
for a long winter.