Autumn

I love those days when autumn’s dawning,
but with a gentle hand
Jack Frost stands on the sidelines,
awaiting his part in the plan.

Green leaves fade to orange & yellow,
& vibrant fiery red
Starry-eyed lovers stroll hand-in-hand,
harvest moon glows o’erhead.

The north breeze hints at things to come,
rustling softly through the trees
Squirrels stock cupboards with nutty stores,
birds take flight on seasonal journeys.

Dig out the fuzzy sweaters
to stave off the evening’s chill
Dig out the cocoa & s’mores,
sculpt pumpkins to decorate the sill.

As weeks go by & days grow short,
Sol arcs lower on his daily commute
Too soon will snowflakes dance in the street,
too soon babbling brooks turn mute.

While winter may have its subtle charms
& summer be made for play,
Give me the mid-swing of the pendulum,
extremes take the breath away.