October 8 - October 12 Week 34/72
calico and blue wood asters are bookends for
a growing season winding down with the daylight
ripened pumpkins have been naively placed on the stoop
an unknown danger lurks, in this year with few tree nuts
morning light revealing the carnage left by voracious squirrels
gnawed flesh, gaping holes, pumpkin pieces strewn about the yard
lamenting the loss of a good pot of soup I gather the shards
of bright orange pumpkin from the still green grass
adding them to the compost conjures up magic
pulled weeds, vegetable ends, numerous eggshells
no longer discernible, individuals no more
the bounty of summer has been transformed
into rich and fertile soil that will nourish
new seedlings just placed in the greenhouse
talismans of a harvest to come