Small Town Places

The tomato vines are dry now, the pumpkin vines are full,

a cooler sun now warms the sky, leaves begin to bloom,

in lively ambers, gold, red, plum, a cooler wind stirs leaves,

pecans, acorns, chestnuts fall, pile beneath the trees.

A calmer feel now gathers near, a tranquil easy balm,

thoughts of days chill like champagne with toasts of flavors warm.

Pumpkin lattes, cornbread, pies, popcorn, pots of chili,

flannel cotton shirts soothe skin as does thick hooded fleece.

In small town places people gather in the cold of night,

cheer their hometown football teams at games beneath bright lights.

Small school bands drum and horn their teams for victory,

chimneys scent the air with smoke where crickets host symphonies.

Frost returns to car windows and window seals on houses,

birds begin to gather flocks preparing for trips south.

Time to store the bird baths, weed eaters and lawn mowers,

make some lists, find some gifts and settle in for winter.

Jade Jaspers Journal