October the Beautiful

The green is staying longer
The leaves refuse to turn
The bite of chilly mornings
Hardly but a nibble

The lanternflies like locusts
Descend upon the deck
I've smashed at least a hundred
Wrung out their rosy necks

But don't you love it?
I thought you hated cold?
Isn't it nice to walk in sun?
With no worries at all?

No leaves to claw at ankles
To pull you into Winter
No cozy clothes to soothe you
For Nature's nearing slumber

Soon October will be June
And January will be August
And June will kill 'bout half
So please come on outside!
While we all still can