i'm here
sitting under
my favorite tree
when i at first
spot it
a simple leaf
floating down
slowly
and as if
to its very
own tune
and landing so
gently on my
big nose

and i breathe
in the crisp
late summer air
as i see it there
sitting right before
my big eyes
and i shout out
to nobody
in particular...
"WELL HELLO AUTUMN!"
and i breathe again
and i take in
all the excitement
of the autumn air

the big piles of leaves
to jump into
red, orange and gold
watch em fly
cause here i go!
rolling and rolling
and rolling around
in such colorful
tapestry
all courtesy
of good ole mom nature
and her many little elves
and fairies and stuff

and soon i jump out
of the leaves
and i catch just
a whiff of it
somewhere in the air
the smell of sweet
cinnamony apple cider
oh the tangy taste of it
as it rolls across the tongue
and it tickles me
and then warms me
from head to toe...
mmmm...bring it on!

and caramel apples
big and bulbous and chewy
and so full of flavor
and goodness
delicious!
as the juice of the apple flows
down the chin
and makes me giggle a bit
as i run back out to the leaves

and the pumpkins
big orange pumpkins everywhere!
and jack-o-lanterns
and savory creamy
pumpkin pie
with a mountain
of whipped cream on it
(now is not the time to skimp!)
i always seem to get
a little puff of cream
on the end of my big nose

oh yes...and hay rides
and bonfires
fall cookouts...weenie roasts
scarecrows with corncob pipes
and corncob wreaths
hanging from every mother's door
and the autumn street fair
with the apple dumplings
and apple butter
and all the crafts
made from pine cones and straw
the quilts made
ever so carefully
by the sweetest grandmothers

ah yes i do tip my cup-o-cider
to my favorite season of all
and it is finally coming
the leaf on the end
of my nose tells me so
as it flips its little arms
in the fluttery breeze
and i smile as i pick it up
ever so carefully
and with respect
and i hold it
down by my
beating exciting heart
ahhhhh autumn!
where have you been?