October

pumpkins wait by the side of the road

trying to hitch a ride

a hollowed out squash

ghosts swinging in the trees

skeletal trees

shivering in the breeze

leaves steal rides on the soles of my shoes

I wonder what you’re doing

the october wind

she

flirts with november

cries when he doesn’t call

calls out all her ghosts

he

leaves

everything cluttered on the ground

blows

leaves

calls his name

november

november’s in the air

dancing with skeletons

dangling from my ears

they hear

the wind

she’s howling

like a dozen giggly ghosts

the leaves snicker behind her back

she

leaves

her soul

in a downward spiral

wet leaves

stuck to my soles

-MKC ’91–