Octobers Past

After the long humidity of summer,
I breathe in the cooling air,
the sweet smell of decaying leaves,
the calming crackle underfoot.
As I shuffle along the sidewalk,
I find myself absorbed in the beauty of the
swirling murals of fiery leaves.
Memories of Octobers past flood my mind,
bringing me back to a time of joy,
a time when nothing could go wrong.
Children collapse in laughing heaps
as a friend bursts from the colorful pile
they raked into a fluffy nest.
Families meander through apple orchards,
munching apples as crisp as the air.
Teens stand in line at night,
watching their breath while sipping cocoa
as they wait for turns on the haunted hay ride.
All memories shared by many,
yet still as personal as
a first kiss, as a secret wish.
Fall is in the air,
a gentle breeze sways the trees,
a happy smile shows on my face.