November
The month of November
rings outlike a warning shot from a long rifle.
Shortened northern daylight
gathers the cool
reminders that winter,
its dark freeze, is on the way.
Better get ready
stockpile
prepare.
Autumn is almost over
carolling almost begun
Time to unwrap your long red and white striped
scarves and matching white maple-leaf mittens
cheer the game of shinny up at the rink
with chairs scratching the surface
toddlers are earning their Canadian keep.
Knee high snow
drifts under
yellow street lights hugging the rink.
November, its that long shot month
the warning, winter’s almost begun
the days are yet to get even shorter
Christmas lights arise on the horizon
Leaves fall to the ground
and the warning shot is fired
winter’s first blast has won yet another round.
❄️
November is excerpted from “From the Wild: a collection of original poems” page 29.
©2015 Mary Ann Archibald. All rights reserved.
November