For The Flying of Kites on October Days

The air is tight

clear

brittle

like glass wrapping the earth

sunlight sparkles

separating

shattering on impact

crystal leaves reflect a million colors

startling

clear and brilliant

limbs release their handful of jewels

rubies

amethyst

flaming diamonds

scattered and throwing a million strands of light across the land

The sky begins to open

as trees spread bare branches

This is the season of the sky

the rich earth dissolves into air

we circle the earth with bare branches

open the sky and follow the wind for a moment

like a brief dream before sleep

for a quiet afternoon

where we ride the wind into the day sky

balancing between seasons

before the sky swallows the last days of autumn

for now,

stillness

balance

and the flying of kites on October days

-Kevin Slick