Tuesday, September 22, 2009

fall equinox


when the birch turn to gold
and the fireweed is topped with
feathery white strands,
when the first snow dusts the peaks,
when darkness sets in early
and stars reveal constellations
named millennia before
by philosophers and poets

when cold touches my nose
and the smell of dying leaves from
cow parsnip to dogwood
fills each breath,
like a clean drink of water,
when the rain taps leaves to the ground
to cover withering berries, melting fungi

time to pull on the boots
drain the hoses
remove the window screens
fluff the down jacket
stack the seasoned firewood
inspect the snow shovel
and add another blanket to the bed.

as the season changes to fall
I mark another year beginning,
remark at the one that has passed,
remember events come and gone
friends who have shared
days in the sun, on a trail,
beside a fire.
summer blinks and we say goodbye

4 comments:

Karen Travels said...

I love this!

corinne said...

This sums up my fall experience beautifully. We must have been in the same place recently -- the latest photo on my blog looks alot like yours!

Unknown said...

Rain taps leaves to the ground. Nice.

bikegirl said...

thanks - sometimes I can only express things with poetry. must be time for some haiku...

Yes, Corinne - I saw your photo. Between the time I took mine & you took yours, the clouds were so different.