6. Corn Hut Talk

WRITE your wishes

on the door

and come in.

Stand outside

in the pools of the harvest moon.

Bring in

the handshake of the pumpkins.

There’s a wish

for every hazel nut?

There’s a hope

for every corn shock?

There’s a kiss

for every clumsy climbing shadow?

Clover and the bumblebees once,

high winds and November rain now.

Buy shoes

for rough weather in November.

Buy shirts

to sleep outdoors when May comes.

Buy me

something useless to remember you by.

Send me

a sumach leaf from an Illinois hill.

In the faces marching in the firelog flickers,

In the fire music of wood singing to winter,

Make my face march through the purple and ashes.

Make me one of the fire singers to winter.