Ode to October

a daydream of winter

October lulls us with
its smoky, cinder scent—

leaf pyres, Hickory bark, 
pine sap and pith. 

Drowsy bees tunnel in 
reedy milkweed stems

and there are too many 
cocoons beneath

the poplars and oaks
to mow. A cold wind 

sends me and the dogs
back in, where I coax

a chirping cricket out
from behind the piano, 

release it back into
the gray cashmere

sweater of afternoon, 
put on the tea kettle

and daydream about
winter’s long sleep.

Photo by Jeffrey Hamilton on Unsplash