THE FALLING LEAVES
The falling of the leaves marks summer's end;
it's time to put away the tools again
and leave until next year unfinished tasks.
The shed will not be painted now this year
and it's too late to mend the garden bench,
it too will have to wait until the spring;
safe in the shed I don't have time to fix.
I should have pruned the roses back in March
but work and weather left no time for it.
I should have told you that I loved you too
but there were lawns to mow and planes to catch
and there will always be another spring.
