Butterflies running away from home 

Cool, crisp, sensually expectant Fall 

right around the corner and I can barely keep my pants on!

Cold night air smoky in your window, candy corn glowing in the sheets

new kids at school, new clothes and school supplies new 

all there at the foot of your bed, or under your pillow

(probably no kids under your pillow) and, then ... 

touches of lipstick and blue jeans in the backseat of some car. 

Some see decay and death in Fall, Winter blowing in next

(but there are forever romantic secrets sparkling in the snow drifts) 

and though I could drop in my tracks any second, 

I don’t see it that way at all. 

Last year I saw a skyful of red dry yellow wild  

leaves blowing sideways 

like butterflies running away from home. 

This year I’m going with them!