the wind howls
a wild thing
scattering families of acorns and leaves
leaving the air cold
the old here among us
wizened trees and deep, dark earth
know that it’s shifting,
it’s shifting again

bones creak and fragile things
cry out as the temperature drops
steady – hold steady – the one thing
you can count on
is change
she won’t wait until you’re ready
she won’t want, but need
to come through,
impartial as the wind,
leaving us scattered and howling
animals once again
how could we win?
We are but nature
surrounded by nature
and so it ends
and begins
and again
and again
Again. The wind howls outside
a wild thing
we are wild things
shifting
shifting again.