A Day Ago, Fall Arrived - Daniel J Owens

Fall is a houseguest who arrives at dawn
and lets himself in to make up a double bed.
He opens each empty drawer of that old, dark oak dresser,
(gifted to you by an ancient aunt whose name you can't remember)
and fills each sliding shelf with cotton purpose
as he empties his single sage suitcase
(which he hides out of sight way back in a closet
next to costumes and ceramic kings).

Shadows shed length
as Summer's spacious sky
is calmed by charcoal clouds.
you find Fall as you shuffle into your soft lit kitchen.

he greets you with calm hazel eyes and offers your favorite mug.
It sits across Grandpa's table,
filled with french pressed ritual,
and spits swirls of steam into morning's soft canary.

After your first thoughtful sip
Fall smiles
and says "Hello."
As old friends often do
just before they reminisce,
and bemoan how long it's been.

-djo-
oct/2011