October

temperatures cool
weatherman
promises rain this year,
perhaps an early snow
but in October
pumpkins piled high
corn stalks dry
costumes prepared
annual hunt
for free candy
daylight savings starts
to save an hour
of sunlight
to guide the path
from work and school
but in the evening
dark weighs heavy
too early to snooze
orange, yellow, brown
leaves fall
then crunch
breaking into little flakes
scattered by the breeze
exposing naked trees
extra blankets on the bed
logs in the fireplace
and hot chocolate
in my hands before
it’s time to sleep.