~ Autumn Serenade ~

the fall sun was

still shrugging off sleep

as the last days of summer

had been pushed off stage

while long shadows

stretched toward winter

the ground was littered with

spent leaves of red and yellow

chestnuts in spiky coats

sat proudly on fingertips

of cold branches

a cool breeze brought with it

clusters of forgotten items

gum wrappers, dried leaves

brown and green duck’s feathers

they danced along

 the reaches of the street

resting then twirling

in step with each gust

a final shimmer

of autumn sun reached through  

a French window

hovering winsomely

landing, exhausted

in a series of pale squares

© Carole Mathys

October 2009