FALL

The last chance, the last berry
The last watermelon seed to spit
There is an urgency, to all things now
Pull out your sweaters, start the fires
It's time to prepare your winter hearths now

The excess of summer is broken down
Gather all you can like the leaves from the trees
Stoke the stoves and prepare winter tea
Close the windows and unfold your sweaters
Winter is coming, harvest the moon and bag the leaves

A scurrying spider, spins up its winter feed
The hint of winter snows is in the breeze
Time to cover your withering flowers
from your springtime gardens
And happy squirrels storing their nuts in the trees

Fill up your pantries, and basement freezers
With salted meats and much needed proteins
There's plenty of sustenance falling from the skies
Like free energy from summer sunshine
Perhaps a quick prayer, at church, from your knees

As the days grow shorter, pumpkins come to life
Halloween masks and little trick or treaters
At your front door, there to remind you
To tuck in your children, and remind all around
That very soon now, Santa's coming to town......

Tony Taylor (Chicago)