Autumn’s Hello?

Leafy Shadow © 2011 Bo Mackison

Is this early autumn’s hello?

These shadows of a breeze-inspired dance imprinted on this golden leaf?

Those hidden leaves — my camera records only their browned shadow, though they are green for a few more weeks perhaps. Remnants of late summer, hugging the earth to escape the cooling nights.

I notice the sun’s lateness in rising and its hasty departure at suppertime.

No more suppers on the porch, taking in the last hours of daylight. No more thrown together meals. Lounging on the porch, munching salads and sandwiches, stripping corn off the cob, typewriter style, re-filling our glasses of iced tea repeatedly.

Now supper wears an air of autumn formality. A tablecloth is spread on the polished wood. Fiesta Ware replaces the old plaid Melmac. Autumn meals require tableware for thick stews and casseroles, mashed vegetables.

I put the gallon glass jar for sun tea on the storage shelf in the basement next to the summer dishes.

The garden flowers have turned to seed.

They stand tall, awaiting the winter birds who will be eager to find a meal in January.