At long last the green oranges ripen
In the cool air, autumn’s surprising fruit 
Along with leafless, smooth-skilled persimmons, 
Trees put on the dying year’s red colors 
And many, many leaves have yet to fall.
  
Halloween has come and gone in an orgy 
Of cars disgorging out-of-neighborhood kids,
A good too many overweight teenagers 
Have caught the greedy annual habit of 
Muscling in on their much younger siblings.
  
When all the candy has been handed out, 
The lights are lowered and the curtains drawn.