Today

At noon the sky here is a plae, chilly blue

that two circling raptors etch hunting for

food. Nearby, the trees still mostly wear their

motley of autumnal colors.

In Baltimore a fire overnight destroyed 

a house but woke the sleeping family

and chased them barefoot into the unseasonably

cold night they would remember however

long they live. South of here, a man steering 

a horse-drawn buggy died after a pickup truck

crossed the centerline for no apparent reason.

The driver fled.

Some who look see the seasons change

in specifics, feel different weather approaching,

wonder about what comes next, quite easily

beguiled to guess their future.

For me, today may promise that winter follows soon.

But yesterday was where hope and heat was.

Having found no acceptable exit,

I step gingerly now down the corridor of years.