Autumn's Last Hurrah

Autumn’s Last Hurrah
Jessica Marie

The calm lake reflects fall’s fiery furry,
oranges and reds lit ablaze from September’s sun.
Wooden tables, moss covered, watch and worry;
lest they forget, people with cameras flock and run.

Puffy white clouds never fail with their tricks;
for an hours’ time, the fire’s intensity subsides,
falling into purple and blue eddies—time slowly ticks
away where winter’s white is a life/death divide.

Yet, with an intensity that rages, comes sadness
that birds’ and squirrels’ music will cease for winter;
their mania amongst the leaves brings madness—
a countdown before long nights and short days splinter.

And yet, there is a calm in Autumn’s last hurrah
as the picnickers and hikers with cameras sigh “ah”.