The sun sets sooner now,

it’s darker and longer.

The shadows… 

They no longer offer
a safe cooling space

They are the harshest of the cold.

The wind isn’t refreshing
But bitter and stinging.

Summer is over.

It’s cold and dark most of the day.

And yet…

The trees, though dying,
offer beautiful colors.

It’s the time for

cozy blankets,

sleeping in,

crackling fires.

Togetherness and giving

It’s time to remember, yet again,
that we have one another.

Though it may be cold,

the views out the window
are stunning this time of year.

Blankets of snow,
empty streets,
piles of fallen leaves
scattered all over.

A sense of calm after
a celebration of spooks.

‘Tis also a time of celebration, 

Closing the book
for yet another year.

As clocks hit midnight,
fireworks pop, and people cheer.

The chapter is over,

The book has closed.

We’ve made it.

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FEATURED IMAGE GRAPHIC BY CAROL TORREZ