Seasonal Thoughts

Autumn


Today is typical of the interval
the period between summer and winter
In the northeast
Sun slanting from the south
Illuminating falling pine needles 
Cloudless blue and gusty skies 
Rattling shoals of maple leaves that can't
 make up their minds which way to scatter
Now swirling down the driveway 
and then darting up the street
a school of fish fleeing a predator

I survey the remains of the garden:
The recent rains and winds have
bent the stalks of tall marigolds into submission,
orange and yellow blossoms shriveled and dead in the slanted sun
Frost blackened stems of basil beg to be pulled-up and
thrown on the heap  

My gaze turns to that brown patch of earth
looking like  a newly dug grave  
because of some unknown rot
that turned the fruits gray and mooshy
I had to yank the tomato vines last week
in frustration and throw them in the trash 
-- not the compost heap so as not 
to contaminate next year's crop

I sit for a long time on the teak bench,
unwarmed by the weak sun
Hoping to gather the  strength
 to face another winter
How many has it been? How many yet to be?

I try to envision another hopeful spring
but the image is blurry and lacking in color.