Autumn Rain Softly Falling

Late autumn rain, softly falling, is cold and raw,

chilling us “to the bone,” old farmers claim,

and driving us back inside

to warm ourselves by a fire, wrapped in fleece and wool

and clutching tight a cup of coffee, acrid,

hot, and strong, a quiet time to reflect,

looking inward, to prepare us for the winter months ahead,

long winter months here at the lake, silent,

now, save for a soft autumn rain, cold and raw.