September skies and swallow fly

Soaring high, swooping low

Drawn to their onward journey go,

Towards the sea and far beyond

To other lands with summer suns.

 

Once twittering as flew above

They're silent now, no time for song

Focussed, replete, a single aim

The drift of rising currents to gain.

 

So up they rise and higher still

A host of tiny, swirling dots

And then, within the blink of eye,

We're left with just an empty sky

A silent wish with our hearts

That summer wouldn't so soon depart.

 

For even now the leaves are turning

And to the ground they'll tumble, twirling,

Dancing on an autumn breeze

And 'ere long naked will stand the trees.

But for a little while they'll glisten

In shades of red and bronze and gold

As the last of summer's sun makes bold to shine

With different light and lesser heat

But warmth enough to make us stop a while and listen.

 

The robin sings, the jays they screech as acorns they start to gather.

A scurrying in the undergrowth of smaller things unseen

As mice and voles and frogs and toads prepare for winters' coming.

But even now a cricket chirps and butterflies still flutter

Amongst the last of summers grass

with flowers holding bravely on

As from one unto another the seasons slowly pass.