Driving home on ribbon roads,

Driving home on ribbon roads,
with trees in glorious color,
leaves like bonfires amongst twining branches
reaching up and up
into
lavender skies with a darkening, lacy shawl of blue-
plump deer peeking up from a yard's edge,
feasting on the final flowers.
Arriving home,
with cottage windows comfortably alight,
stepping into wood smoke scented crisp air
and onto crunchy leaves-
which swirl up as I kick them
(for a moment, five again)
I smile-
knowing inside is warmth,
laughter waiting to be birthed,
and hot chocolate to be shared amongst love's hearth.

-Beth Butler