For Father's Month

September, and the rains begin Ripe drops of memory on the tongue September, and the robins spin Fresh songs sweet as hibiscus lung I am in your birth month, father Day covering me with your form, fife Me to dance your fiddle of life This month, wind tailored, clothed With days that you wore before The abyss of eons Spangled stars that gave dust To the flesh of earth Here's our making and our daying place This month garments memory Like your ties around a child's neck And I, led gracefully Into the blue church's chamber, defaced Now by childhood recollection of transgressions Those whose jealousy of you made them sin And stumbled in my eyes Where love etched your face on unstained glass Those sweet light flooded panes September brims me with light But the sun fades fast I am glad its too early for leaves to fall The sunset still its glory cast I play in the shadow of your love, singing To the silent wall.