Do You Remember?
First Love in Autumn
Autumn reminds me not only of leaves and lanterns, but of hands once held and prayers once whispered.
Do you remember?
Those days in crisp-apple autumn –
Pumpkins carved on stoops,
The smell of fresh-fallen leaves,
A nip at the ear,
A tingle to the nose.
Do you remember?
Lanterns glowing in orchards,
The tractor’s slow wagon ride,
Ripe McIntosh picked and gathered,
Rosy cheeks warmed by cider,
Windows cracked on the ride home.
Do you remember?
The kitchen where we peeled –
Small nicks from slicing apples,
Nutmeg dusted with cinnamon,
Dough rolled pasty beneath our palms,
The smile you wore then.
Do you remember?
The prayers whispered in fading light,
Secrets spoken softly,
Feet kicking through mounded leaves,
The way we touched,
How my hand felt in yours.