November

By Irene Latham


Even the sky

is naked


now, brisk air

having finally


chased off

the clouds.


Trees sway

in the backyard,

 

wind pushes

my collar up


as yellow-brown

tornadoes


tear across

the lawn


in a dance

that can only


be done

when all else


has been stripped

away ---


like just before

our lips touch,

or just after.