1.
the sun is peeling
another layer from its face
again. turning whiter.
blanching. removing itself.
retreating.
2.
the wounded earth,
bombarded summer-long,
healing itself with patches
of frost
3.
brittle, brown leaves
drifting, somnolent,
from exhausted branches
indifferent to landings
4.
pumpkins on porches
going to slumped rot -
static curls of wind
frantically crackling
at newly cold ears.
5.
the violent season is ending,
the violent season is beginning
6.
yesterday we watched
a squirrel nervously
gathering acorns
in the yard. stared at us
as though we weren't quite
there.
later,
looking at each other
in the same way,
we gathered kernels of warmth
and buried them
in our bedsheets,
and together
closed all the windows
in the house
