Haikus – Autumn Season
ragged butterfly
across September's chill dew --fly October moth flying yet on tattered wings towards firelight Pungent leaves burn and cold wind takes the ash while I turn for more. The old goose turns south this year alone–not making his call foggy morning – butterfly hangs upside down too lugging the scare crow rattling rattling over broken stalks brought on a stretcher the old man needs a bath– fall birds all know south between floating leaves brown sparrow rustles for a drink Thanksgiving between the knees crook-neck comes in from the barn wet leaves stuck to her bottom –she hums entering a house for the first time – a housefly wrings both hands and feet left-leaning rain wetting one side of a pole – spending all day first leaves blowing off in their brightest colors down a dark path a leaf by the church though it lost touch with its oak –church-door red leaf-boat riding crisply toward a riffle overcast wood – the tulip tree provides its yellow light across bare fields hectic red and yellow – stout oak steep path – a brown leaf in steady rain giving up its shape crab apples looking seedy as hell –bakery-brown oaks pumpkin-faced --the moon has not frightened anyone for years Crooked from the wind one-limbed the pine balances a star catching cold wind an iron post stands alone-- fallen fences fall color finally brightening a fruitless branch expect to startle-- popcorn hopping in a pan autumn grasshoppers young trees dark forest bright leaves some last marigolds on the last day of autumn meet chrysanthemums the winning ticket-- black walnuts squirreled away along with acorns |