Autumn Hanging On

Born naked and bleak in a cold north wind
To plunder gold from Autumn's attire,
Winter comes with a skeleton-toothed grin
And icy minions on a ruthless hand.

Each Season finds itself, in order,
Victim of immutable fate,
But life struggles desperately to grasp,
Over nature's will, another breath.

So Autumn leaps on back the wind
Like a rodeo cowboy rides.
Defiant spurs gouge bucking gusts
To wipe away the skeleton's smirk
And let the interloper know
Leaves will fall when Autumn decides.