A Few Of My Fav'rite Fall Things

Leaf-papered walkways and pumpkins on porches

Gusts snuffing gold poplar-tapers and torches

Tea after twilight and long evenings

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

Frost-dazzled daybreak and warm socks and ‘knickers’

Orchard a-bustle with rosy-cheeked pickers

Harvesters humming hope’s thanksgiving hymns

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

When the blooms sleep

When the woods weep

When summer has been ‘had’

I think of a few of my fav’rite fall things

Then I don’t feel so sad

Raindrops on windows paint quaint water-colors

Woodpiles replenished as well as fruit cellars

Gardens unraveled and slum’bring ‘til spring

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

Book-baskets filled with more than wishful glances

Wind-brooms in ballrooms with rake-partnered dances

Wide-eyed tots tickled by autumn’s heaped wings

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

When the temps drop

When the nuts plop

When I feel time’s sting

I think of a few of my fav’rite fall things

Then I feel like a king

Fresh bread and veggie-soup suppers, not salad

Kiss on my face by a cheeky breeze-ballad

Startled by music from leaf-winnowed strings

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

Ling’ring to worship on sweeps of corn-stubble

Drinking the thrill of a hill steeped in purple

Spellbound by belfries where Death’s red gong rings

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

When the jay calls

When the day crawls

Out of bed, gray-clad

I think of a few of my fav’rite fall things

Then oh, I feel so glad

Lure of a longer way home cuz steps crackle

Better-than-ever big bite of fresh apple

Cider, pies, fritters, crisps, muffins, dumplings

Apples are ten of my fav’rite fall things   

The wind is a busker, each grass field, a fiddle

Plump milkweed-pods primed to pop down the middle

Hail the Creator, whatever life brings

Earth is a-blur with fall-favourite things

When the gale moans

When our stiff bones

Seem to creak with cold

I simply start counting my fav’rite fall things

Then I don’t feel so old

Fireside chats and a snooze for no reason

Sweaters and hats that we choose for the season

Chasing leaf-cartwheels like cats chasing strings

These are a few of my fav’rite fall things

Mountain ash garnets set on sky-blue satin

Stark silhouettes sketched on dusk’s coral curtain

Crisp country mornings where fog fragment clings

These are a few of my favourite fall things

When the gale roars  

When the sun snores

When flow’rs turn to seed

I simply start counting my fav’rite fall things

Then I feel blessed indeed

© Janet Martin

© Janet Martin