Autumnal

As school children scurry to school like the multi-colored leaves that will soon be hurried along the roads by October winds, we feel and we know that a new season is upon us. Stifling summer’s ardor, autumn almost seems to hum a melancholy tune as its breezes caress a multitude of trees, and peaks of distant mountains are garlanded by fleecy clouds in dawn’s gleaming light. A new ardor of its own is brought by autumn as trees become ablaze with a rhapsody of colors - vermillion, amber, rust, gold. Apples red and green adorn orchards’ trees. Sometimes at dusk we can see when persimmon skies might fuse with terrain as the sun descends on rows upon rows of orange pumpkins, round and lying lonely beneath the glow of a luminous full moon. Days crawl a bit faster into lengthening cooling nights. About midway through October, an Indian summer may appear to fulfill my sun-drenched dreams before the season proceeds into November - floating those last glowing days away. Frost touches down, and radiant leaves, like small yellow finches or cardinals. soar through the air one last time before settling and eventually crumbling onto ground growing dull and brown. Oh, lovely autumn, may your bright days linger until they pale. Please, autumn, let winter stall before we fall into its cold clasp.