Ren Pike

This roof, one season more

puff your chest, puff-puff
robin not red
your feathered beauty
skews more titian sun-ward
compliments all around
walk proud, head cocked
toes digging fir mat needles
once green, blast now
product of smoke-sky
summer, skittle-shaken
concrete park pad peaking
cautious, anticipating
All Saints come
creeping, snow foot soft
with pumpkins and ghosts
Guy Fawkes torch
ablaze in the wings
leaves mid-shift
soon-gold curling
swirling, ember glow brick work
backdrop, backstop
standing fast, corner post
rustic pine, grew
and was cut
far from wildfire grasses
storm cellar passages
continue to hold up
this roof, one season more