Autumn Bones

Talon-shaped tree shadows spill
over elderly grass shivering
at the touch of Autumn's breath

Bonfire smoke writhes sensuously
to flirt with the tangerine moon peeking
throughtattered, gauzy draperies
of purple clouds

My two children lay their heads
on our graying, grizzled retriever talking
in hurried church voices of coyote tracks
encircling jumbled opossum bones
along the river's soft, stooped shoulders

Eavesdropping, I smile
as nearly nude trees whisper
of winter to come

I think, "Not yet...not yet."