autumn's
come sneaking round my street lately
the
wind comes up my drive
curling
about like it has some business here
the
cold knocking on the windows
so
cold to the touch
and
as soon as the sun knocks off work
the
chill i always fear
now
makes a more marked presence in the air
darkness
descends too early
that
those of the night knows it's still seasonably day
but
resigned and with a measure of relief
light
my candles
and
burn my oils
as
i settle down to my nightly toil
the
smell of burning dust
as
heaters are resurrected to perform their necessary task
to
protect my aching bones
even
now through the window
i
see the dew laid down on the roof of my car
and
the hour is still well before eight
like
a sweeping carpet
on
the tails of the winds of Autumn
does
Winter come calling
and
it is in this month
that
i am reminded
that
twenty years have gone past
since
i was diagnosed with leukaemia
so
it is with a certain
nostalgia
and trepidation i realise as it comes lurking
as
a survivor
i
will be
chilled
to the very marrow
