I love November! - a trilogy

I love November!

I love November!
It's not because of football.
It's not because I came to my senses
and switched to cross-country my sophomore year.
It's not because of the sheer beauty of browning leaves
and reddening leaves, and yellowing leaves.
It's not because sweaters are my favorite article of clothing.
It's not because of Thanksgiving (although I do give thanks),
and meeting Filomena in London, and our mutual birthdays.

I love November!
It's not because of silly elections since I live in Washington, DC
and my vote means absolutely nothing except keeping in practice
(taxation without representation, and all that jazz).

I love November!
It's the slight twinge in the breeze telling us a new year is coming.
It's the same drop in temperature that invigorates my brain,
wrapping around my legs so gingerly.
It's the shortening of days, sunset coming earlier during the fast,
nights getting longer and longer.

November makes me want to stretch out
my sweatered arms and scream Hallelujah!

*

A song for Nikki

A poet named Nikki Giovanni
came to Greensboro back in the 70’s
          (I think it may have been in November)
and read for a small group of students.
Somehow or other I found myself
in the mix. Can I just say I plumb fell
in love? She was younger then and I was
even younger and couldn’t find the words
to make an absolute fool of myself.

Since then, Poetry’s been my mistress
and my erstwhile Muse, guiding my vessels
through high seas and low, missteps and false starts
aplenty. I ride the nightwinds, trusting in
and steering by the stars I’ve learned to read,
making up the harmony as I go.

*

Regrets for a November Sunday gathering

Dear friends: we weren’t able to breakaway
for the Sunday meeting – these fourteen lines
will fill our seats, we hope, and share the space.
Did y’all know the demarche and the sonnet
traveled a common path? And did y’all know
A-100 is just a room number?
I just found out myself – the tiny threads
that tie us all together – a collage.

Fourteen points is enough for a message
exchanged between princes, across kingdoms.
A room number is a setting for a play
being staged – a romantic comedy,
one hopes, that will make us feel good, reflect
about the times we spent, the lives we lived.