Autumn Comes In

Autumn comes in with blustery breath,

Huffing and puffing and making the trees talk,

Saying rude things and uttering regretful gasps,

As their leaves are plucked

One by one and by the dozen,

As the fruit of a summer’s labor is

Whisked away and shaken from their grasp.

So, be fussed and bedazzled

By Northern air and blue sky

And the colorful tatters of summer’s lace,

We work to gather the fallen fruit for winter’s living.

We stack the leaves in gathered piles to create spring’s promise

In their death and decay,

Before the next gust calls them to play in the wind

One last time before slumbering in Demeter’s embrace

But,

When winter at last comes to stay,

Sere and dry

Or wet and dank

Or frozen and still

We miss summer’s heat and rampant growth.

The breathy wonder of season’s change

Can make us sing and sigh.