The red-winged blackbirds
are the first to go
It’s that time again
The caterpillars are crawling
A stiff wind is blowing
Sounds carry farther
Fuzzy milk weeds
spilling in the chill
Political signs at the four-way
Gun shots again
Midterms and charlatans
Their promises—warm as ice
on dead plants
And they’re not coming up next year

Christopher J Ananias

(All by CJA)