Mushroom Weather

Here in a northwest November
south storm winds rattle warm
through still-turning trees.
Persimmons and pumpkins glow
like autumn suns.

It's mushroom weather, slug weather:
too wet for yardwork, too warm for winter's
season of putting tools away.

Strange second-summer growth
of mad geraniums. Grass, dead
all through sunny August, flourishes
under lowering leaden skies.
Lawnmower sounds fill the daylight hours.

Only the peony acknowledges winter,
leaves collapsing, giraffe-yellow
with brown spots.

Collection available! Knocking from Inside