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Wednesday, October 05, 2011

October in Southern California

In So Cal it’s always summer
until the second weekend in October
when everyone stops wearing cutoffs
and the beaches get emptier.

The same violent Santa Ana winds
that sweep brushfires through
the canyons
also blows the summer smog away.

The leaves find their way
off the branch
exploding in vibrant splashes
of orange, umber and ochre.

Walgreens becomes schizophrenic
as nativity scenes bump up against
displays of Zombie makeup
and costumes.

Everything slows down,
it gets darker faster
and the kids come inside earlier.

The night air
brisk and frisky
brings forth sweaters and jackets
and memories of new love,
smelling her perfume
in the early evening sky,

and we still sleep
with the windows open
but now it’s cold enough to
curl up together,

lost in the warm
narcotic sweetness.

4 comments:

  1. "Walgreens becomes schizophrenic
    as nativity scenes bump up against
    displays of Zombie makeup
    and costumes."

    You are so right about this. Makes me crazy to even think about Christmas yet!

    Good to think about snuggling up though.

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  2. I'd braced myself, as usual, for some sort of darkly-humorous twist... but this was actually, well, sweet, in an odd way. I liked it.

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  3. Nice autumnal flow and color.

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  4. Thanks everyone - @drenchxoxo yes it's favorite time of the year Hallo-mas or Christ-ween (take your choice) @snowdrop sweet in an odd way - you bet I am. @TheUnknowningGnome thanks I was trying to incorporate color.

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