Tag Archives: Autumn

On My Drive Today

I saw a tractor throwing dark earth, and
A field of cosmos—pink, purple, white.
I saw a hedge, large and tall and perfectly green, notched at the top like a castle,
And a grave with balloons on it.
I saw a small, black travel bus with the words “my party bus”
In chunky white letters across one end.

Rows of perfectly spaced deciduous trees at a nursery wore fall colors, and
Weeds decorated the aisles between.
Neon-green skeletons perched on a wire fence,
And a navy-blue Tesla followed me for miles.
I crossed a mirror-still river,
And passed under two branches, touching
Like outstretched fingertips above me.

I saw tractor-crossing signs, deer-crossing signs, political signs, and
Line after line of baby trees and shrubs, only a foot tall,
Every shadow in perfect formation across groomed dirt rows.
I saw horses swishing their tails,
And clouds, dressed for a slumber party.

I saw metal buildings, colored by rust, and
Old, wooden farm buildings painted rust-red.
I saw a stream in an overgrown meadow,
Water profuse with delicate, floating plants.
I saw pumpkins combed into rows—no vines, just orange fruit for acres,
And the long shadows of a fall afternoon.

Berries Will Turn Red

Berries Will Turn Red

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for warm mug in hand,
steam rising,
tea sweet with creamer.

Blessed are You
for Phrank—the cat—
purring on my lap,
face pinched with old age;
for leaves edged thinly with brown,
hinting at Autumn;
for the last bucket
of grapes from the vine,
complete with spiders,
ladybugs, and earwigs.

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for tiny green berries
hidden in green leaves
surrounding our porch.
The berries will turn red,
the leaves will flame with color
and I will cut
a handful of branches
and put them in a vase
and say, Thank You for this,
for life.