Autumn Chores #2

Autumn Chores

Never ending
Orange, yellow, red leaves
On the ground.
I herd them towards me,
The rake clawing the grass.

Crisp leaves crunching
Under my feet.
Smell of Autumn
In the air.

Bracing wind howls
Between nearly bare branches.
It numbs my fingers
And reddens my cheeks to rubies.

Awaiting steaming
Hot chocolate to meet
My frigid lips.

But I am only
At the beginning
Of the end,
With still much to do.