Late Fall

The soft tans of dying grass,

fluff from seed parachutes,

purple flowers and savaging yellow jackets,

sag and slow in the wet decline

of grey months before winter.

It is the beginning of wool appreciation season,

orange gourds that grimace and wink at

goblins and ghouls, raggedy Ann and Andy,

kittens and superheroes in search of sugar treats

to stuff their larders for winter.

Herb Ratliff, November 7, 2012, All Rights Reserved