All Those Things in November

I walked into Mother Nature today.

It has been several turns 

of the calendar since my last visit, 

she’s had some work done:

Her walls bare and tree branches curled 

like eyelashes, a crisp carpet of orange 

 

leaves blanketed her flooring.

I like what you’ve done 

with the place, I murmured apricot appreciation. 

I find it necessary to shake 

the underbrush from time to time, 

 

make space for what’s ahead,
she rustled, pleased I had noticed.

That’s smart. Smart and a little sad,

beautiful and simple and hopeful.

 

Nature nodded. Yes, I am all 

those things in November. Once home, 

I raked old stories off my walls, 

 

wrapped them in velvet and tobacco, 

made space for what’s ahead.

 

My redecoration has begun.

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Sarah Hanson

First published in Prosetrics in September 2024.