Sonnet For Winter

As darkness spends the bounty bought by spring, As sunset puts the day to bed before Its time; when in cold nights no crickets sing, I know the summer has again been wasted. But winter bears no fault, commits no crime – The guilt rests with those things which yet remain Until the early frost and passing time Steals hoards of summer qualities, once prized. I offered you, in seasons past, a pact – I would have stayed the course up to this day – You laughed at me and by this thoughtless act, You sowed the seeds of summer’s certain end. A hard lesson, that fruit once cast aside Cannot be saved, for it has long since died.