Poetry Exercises I

(10×10) 

Again, the cold September wind has swept itself to us 

Little specks of brown and orange herald winter’s icy drought 

Turning green of tree and bush back to autumn shade 

Moving all that summer’s blossom in our heart had stirred 

To the drafty spaces upstairs we thought for good abandoned 

Tipsy and suddenly out of balance, we decide to dance 

Heads still numbed by warmth of days that felt eternal 

Hands tentatively rising into air – already carrying next season’s seeds – 

Dance to this slow rhythm that summoned us back home 

Throw off the burden of harvests that started last spring. 

(10×7) 

Again, cold September wind swept to us 

Specks of brown herald winter’s icy drought 

Turning green of tree to autumn shade 

Moving all that summer’s blossom had stirred 

To the spaces upstairs we thought abandoned 

Out of balance, we decide to dance 

Still numbed by warmth that felt eternal 

Hands rising into air – next season’s seeds – 

Dance to this rhythm that summoned us 

Throw off the harvests started last spring.