now I am autumn

    by Bates Corlieu


now I am autumn
in her untrussed uncombed yellows
wildly offering all she has left
before turning red for the circling shark
before shuddering down brown into
only a glowing crescent
perched beside the retina
pinched in tight by clothespin frowns

but wait — not yet!
just once more
let the child pass
let her run-play like horses in rain
scribble rainbows on concrete stairs
scream with fierce delight
in the spray of the garden hose
and roll in the wet grass laughing