Fall '25

Shadows lengthening 

Air sharpening to a crisp 

Summer slipping day by day 

Something new and familiar in its place. 

Bags stuffed with papers 

Early morning bus rides 

Jeans and combed hair and sweaters 

Scattered reflective moments. 

Yellows and pinks becoming 

Burgundy and pumpkin orange 

Running hard against frozen ground 

With mittens and beanies. 

Playing guitar wrapped in a hoodie 

Ordering the dress online 

Quiet evenings baking 

Instrumental piano melodies. 

10 o'clock calculus homework 

Fatigued and overwhelmed mind 

Huddling with friends 

Walking laps in conversation. 

Basketball in the driveway 

Chai tea seeped in my thermos 

Watching the animals move on 

Fast-applied early morning makeup. 

Glasses on, reading 

Steaming showers after practice 

Leaves rustling gently baked in a glow 

Warm from the oven chocolate chip cookies 

It's the same beginning  

I'm just older now.