Farewell, Sweet Summer

Farewell, Sweet Summer! Autumn near, flowers bent towards the sun Almost prostrating themselves-so distressing Like beggars clutching at Jesus, craving the One Sunbeams turn their backs without even a blessing So the brightest star pulls away, off somewhere else It’s got other appointments to keep In the distance toll the old mission bells Like a dirge, and the whole garden weeps Alas, summer is dying, sucking its last muggy breaths As crickets scrich their sharp taunting jeers Not many seem saddened at all by this death And for this passing mourners won’t raise a bier Autumn is born, its gestation complete We excitedly awaited your cool advent No longer stuck in thick, cloying heat Gone is the summer of our hot discontent Yes! Fall is born! Let’s give it a name! It will spend its time blowing chilled breezes Soon it will set the landscape aflame As it whirls all the kaleidoscope leaves Freed from arthritic twigged branches As fingers release shiny gold coins Nature’s allegro pirouette dancers Auditioning for the autumnal Bolshoi Others float gently through brisk afternoon air Like large brilliant harvest snowflakes Landing softly on a grassy blanket there To wait defenseless, for the merciless rake