autumn air rises
your face turns toward the sun
like summer, you go.

a summer of warmth
turns soft beneath the crust:
September's first pie.

so many stories
hold us close together here
even when we leave.

from your first stirrings
i knew it would be like this,
so much letting go

only hours left
all summer long together
and now, september

get out the school clothes
count the red leaves as they turn
in the bright sky, geese.