Autumn Celebration!

Came to finish my coffee and it had a leaf-garnish!

Celebrate autumn, oh, come feast your eyes

Earth’s cornucopia spills with surprise

Free for all banquet-hall, large as the day

Fields and hills groaning with nature’s buffet

Celebrate autumn; the garden is bare

Cellars are brimming with its gathered fare

Wend your way homeward where colors collide

Pretend that time is a friend on our side

Celebrate autumn; its vintage is fine

Grand culmination of fruit from the vine

Here’s to the tableau that authors awe’s toast

Praise to the Artist where no man can boast

Celebrate autumn; death wears quite a gown

Coral and crimson, gold, red for its crown

Making us brothers all; beggar and king

Gazing agog at leaf-song's final fling

Celebrate autumn; hip-hip-hip-hooray
Three cheers for lovely October's paint tray
Cinnamon, ginger, apple-orchard blush
Misty mauve mornings with warm oatmeal mush

Celebrate autumn; for soon its flare dims

Scattered in tatters beneath barren limbs

Easing us on toward what all must brave

Soul to the Giver and ash to the grave

© Janet Martin