Autumn Blues

Autumn Blues
Quizmo LaGrande

It’s sad outside. Blue.
Oh, the sun is shining, and the air is warm
But the wind is blowing stillness.

Fronds are rustling, aging hard and sharp,
Desperately hanging to their skyscraper lives,
Soon to crash as dangerous denizens.

No hurricanes in this sky, though the ocean surges near,
No tornadoes or thunder, lightning or fear.
But a stillness hanging in the wind
Causes yellow leaves to yield,
Delinquency raked to green recycle bins.

Sullen as the sea, blue as the sky,
A calm blusters by
With wisps of white angel wings and elephants.
And the cold comes in baby trumpets.
Perhaps a flannel will do
But not a yet a sweater.

Tans fade as garden blooms dance their closing show
Then raise their heads in final curtain crow.
Shorts turn long, sandals—shoes.
Children tote paper and pencils to school.
Bikinis adorn only goose bumps
In backyards and beaches
As the wind blows stillness,
And days grow short.

Time to go south,
Time for head turning and dreams

Of endless summer.