September, safely tucked back into the year’s pocket

Autumn Tangle, William Henry Holmes

September, safely tucked back into the year’s pocket.

October ties her apron, gets out her pruning shears.

Politely removes summer’s faded bookmark from the garden,

smiling as she whispers, “Next chapter.”

Goes to work coaxing shy orange.

Serenades yellow leaves,

vibrato of autumn pulsing in her voice.

Flings a kaleidoscope of color onto trees nobody has noticed since last year.

Walks sedately in fog-marinated rain, laughs,

then tosses her umbrella in the willow tree.

Jumps into puddles pink with breath of sunset,

luminous silver droplets clinging to her hair.

Too busy relishing the season’s charms

to worry about decorum now,

she slams the door

on winter’s searching face

and cries

“Not yet!”

-gh