Shoulder Season

Today the maples in the yard
sport red mid summer’s green,
and the birches by the lake
now wear an amber sheen.
The pumpkins in the garden
are growing round and fat,
bright orange beneath their green berets
and other squashy hats.
Roses droop their coiffured heads
and weep their silken tears
while asters stand beside them
and flaunt their purple cheer.
The neighbor’s swingset empty stands,
the bikes are all alone;
a hungry schoolbus ate the kids
and took them far from home.
Butterflies still drift and dance
on every passing breeze,
but those winds are cooler now
as they stroke the gold-flecked trees.
Vacation’s lovely nakedness
she’s trying now to hide;
don’t forget to take a sweater
when you, too, go outside.
Summer’s lease is ending
with the bluejay’s strident call,
so good-bye, August, it’s been fun –
September’s here and fall.

© Deborah Kellogg 2015