Autumn is indeed with us. Brisk, chill evenings. Summer’s heat departed. From the back of the closet, warm fall coats. And coming up: first furnace day. Here’s a poem honoring the arrival of this rich season.

     Autumn Hymn               

Autumn like a cathedral

of trees and sunlight in trees

dogs far barking,

the edge of cooling silence.   

Autumn lovely in dying                   

the deep sky bearing up the hawk                         

crisp fallen leaves mark footsteps,

the ghost of summer moaning in the hedge.

Autumn of golden slanting light

season of whispering cattails

a dry wind from the Hebrides

carries us away into slumber.

Autumn beyond all containment

wild in the night of the half-moon

visiting our beds, lighting up dreams,     

dark witches blessing all endeavor.

Autumn crooning us to sleep                  

carrying us into darkness and silence,

as though it is our final season                    

he fingers our ivory bones.                               

Autumn forever, if we could command it,    

soaring out over a gray sea

whispering a sweet departure

dragging behind him pale winter’s grasp.