Shades of October
Like kindling, autumn leaves crackle under my shoes,
a carpet of fire, fallow, and blackberry bruise,
strewn scattered to the horizon without halt,
embers glowing warmly against charcoal asphalt.
The wind ruffles blazing leaves, as crisp and cool,
as the apples that blush on the boughs; sweet ruby jewels.
The breeze tickles the back of my neck with chilly fingers,
and even through my scarf, the feeling lingers.
Shadows of geese peek through the clouds,
overcast, silvery shrouds,
their trumpeting chorus decrescendos far, far away,
to a distant place where night is shorter than day.
The sky herself must be as cold as I,
for the sun soon says goodbye,
and tumbles from its towering height,
as the sky wraps herself in cloak of night.
