a street like yours

On Monday I was walking down a street like yours

I was reminded of begonia flowers

Folks sit on porches and pass the hours

Breezes blow fallen leaves about my feet

Yellow on one side, on one side red

Lifted up and whirled

Wet leaves leave rust stains on the walk

Dry leaves crush brittle under foot and boot

Bikes whir by

An occasional wispy cloud scutters across the autumn sky

Gusts bend branches, and blossoms and leaves cascade to the ground

Chimes lightly chime

Some old pumpkins slowly split and slump, collapse and crumble

Old man Marshall in overalls lumbers up and down a paint-spattered ladder

Hanging strings of small white lights

A small dog wobbles along on a discrete errand known to him only

Puddles rush out from under car tires and back

Rakes scrape graying leaves across lawns into heaps

Pink and orange the sky glows

And every branch and trunk is evenly lit, without anywhere a shadow

Dusk comes early and cold descends fast

as the sun behind grassy hills drops low

Crisp dark night sky stars shine

Smoke snakes above mossy roof tops

Inside, families gather cozy at flickering fires

Drinking cocoa, tea and nog.

Soon carolers will arrive

Wandering from home to home to home

Before long we will crawl under covers and cuddle beneath comforters

Sleep in a tangle of sheets

Easy dreams bring deep release

by DanShaw.com