If I were to paint fall

I would start with the sumac's
bright reds from green

then the aspen or poplar
short yellow brush strokes

I would paint the raspberries
with deep saturated purples

and apples would be sharp
crisp strokes of red

but how would I paint
the smell of dead leaves

or the oak trees
clingy greedy orange

how could I paint the
loneliness of bare limbs

in the end, the canvas
would be as it started

White

red orbs in dry leaves

soft from a summer of growth

each carries life
each carries death

Every morning I wake
Heels hurting with
new steps

To the bathroom
to the shower
top the Kitchen

I drive in darkness
Looking at the moon
I watch her chase stars

Over old man river
I drive feeling it
tug on my soul

To the Factory

Walking into the smell of fall

White tail booty calls
scratched into the earth
leaves rattle as we shuffle

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Walking into the smell of fall
summer shapes litter
slowly descending in sunlight

trees frame gravel

talking past and present
thin souls feeling ground
up hill and down

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Yesterday we went for a walk
dressed as Medieval pilgrims
talking about what they may of done

feeling the earth beneath us
on thin soles

we walked into the bright colors
with light and wind all around

trails zigged and zagged
all on a camp ground
____________

Haiku

Walking into fall
one by one shuffling leaves
my foot is hurting

surrounded by sound
thinking on poems
enjoying their laughter

dry leaves rattling
a squirrel carries it's bounty
car park oddity

a packet of potential
my Daughters gift
following grandpa's advice

intended to show wind
where she found it
I don't know

this pod of milkweed
it sat on my dash
over time I watched

  It open

seeds lined up so neatly
as days passed on
delicate filaments broached

the seeds sought escape
with whispy white wings
ready for flight

then today with
both doors open
a blast of wind

and all that potential
took flight
dancing on air

Haiku Nonsense

When I write a Haiku it has to be something I have seen or experienced

I try to avoid " the " I try very hard not to repeat words. All while following the 5-7-5 format.
I also try to avoid to many words that end with  "ing"

Today I stepped out my door and saw a Haiku. I just had to figure it out. (this is the part I love)

V1

Dark air smelling wet
Horizon filled with lightening
fall is pushing south

I didn't like this one as it reminds me of wet dog for some reason, but I liked the last line.

V2, broken haiku

White arcs branching night
smell of wet pavement fills, ( what I don't know)

Then I thought of Mob movies and people drowning in cement, so that means this is right out.

V3

White arcs branching night
Clouds dancing on wet pavement
summer escapes south

White arcs seems lame and reminds me of drowning in cement.


V4

Lighting breaks night sky
clouds dancing in wet pavement
Summer escaping

This last one feels right and captures what I am going for.

waiting in drizzle
Kids run by to other cars
there is my sunshine

Surrounded by night
I smell wind while clouds whisper
My dog is pooping

I see heads in hay
Black on green all facing west
Wisconsin murder

sitting in blue light
watching old leaves gently sway
Listening to crickets

black clouds are speaking
warning of a deluge
parking lot footrace

Walking to my break
I hear new rain slipping through
Puddles on concrete

birches looking west
snapping turtle walks about
gold fields at twilight

Here I am working
Always dingy always grey
thinking on flowers

weeds growing so tall
line my sidewalk with flowers
wet socks on cement

Smothered in wet heat
I see blue fingers reaching
thunderstorms riding

Heavy wet grey
Bright scattered bits of yellow
beauty in the end