We see autumnAs a blazeOf red leaves, falling leaf-shaped embersFrom the branch-lined sky,A blazeOf squirrels rushing,Geese hurrying, of motion,A blazeOf jack-o-lanterns.

But around the jack-o-lanterns falls the night,Advancing slowly through the days,A black cat stalking the now-mouse-weak sun.Northern winds comeHand in hand with warm zephyrsAbove the autumn’s thin skin of fire,Waltzing around each other;Summer to winter and backWhile below,Frost turns soil to stone,For hardy autumn-leaf mushrooms to stand brittleLike Medusa’s stare.