o hushed october morning mild, thy leaves have ripened to the fall...

did you ever pretend to be a giant worm

burried in a pile of leaves

then beg your brother to fetch grandpa

so he could fish you out?

or try to lay motionless, breathless

while your brother "convinced" your mom

to come outside to see the "harmless" pile of leaves

then he said the secret word for you to jump up

to "surprise" her?

have you ever heard the aspens quake

and shiver their leaves of gold?

have you ever walked home late at night

after studying for hours at the library,

enjoying the darkness for your enhanced smell {breathing in wet leaves and pavement} and your enhanced hearing {sloshy or crinkled leaves}?

have you ever finished reading a novel or a short poem

that moved you to go outside to notice how the earth 

lives, breathes, and beats?

have you ever wanted a season to linger...

to give you one more brisk breeze

or one last bowl of butternut squash soup.

or have you ever grown tired,

seeking change?

have you ever been so grateful

for right now?

it's just all so beautiful,

isn't it?

{photos by me. october 2009. utah}