deep red leaves sway like elderly flesh, bruised
yellow leaves cling, jaundiced skin,
pale orange pine needles threateningly shroud the ground,
brown leaves commit suicide onto dying grass
fretting the shuffle into large black sacks
people scour the ground with massive back-scratchers
hands blister, fleshy
acorn squash falls off of prickly vines
naked tree limbs reach out fearing cold
rain falls puddling into muddy cesspools,
strands of hay huddle together with spools of jute
bird-chirp mornings are hushed and distant,
flowers and gardens droop like frail old men,
winds howl, children fall off bicycles
people move about like scared rabbits on brisk mornings,
dusty jackets loose the shape of stiff-shouldered hangers
porches are covered with tacky orange bulbs,
massive inflated pumpkins loom like obese statues,
dead dried corn stalks remain hostage on painted porch posts,
smells of decaying leaves waft, raccoons rifle through trash bags
people are late, they huddle under comforters, spoon
kettles of soup that simmer and groan like liquid giants,
hot apple cider scorches mouths, spicy lava
blankets come out of musty chests like cadavers from graves,
creepily clad children gobble candy by the bagful
Hand Cut Sterling Silver Maple Leaf Necklace (SOLD)
