Autumn Altar “They cry out for an offering of flowers or of fruit” (after A.V. Christie) invocation of oregano mountain radiance scent of moths bearing the breath of bards black paste moldered walnut husks citric tang henna’s secret stranger wild cucumber pods mad prickles mellowed to lacy veils the spade-bitten earth a chalice for roots to milkweed the memory of Mexico ash samaras the curtain lingers riddles under wide-eyed bark never again phosphorus of the field earth lanterns possums decay before dying vitis this our grape twisting (de)pendent on the adamant other pawpaw just ready when easily bruised
Susan Charkes, writer and poet, lives in southeastern Pennsylvania. Her poetry chapbook, sp. was published in 2017. She is a member of Montco Wordshop and Tenth Sky Poets. More at susancharkes.com.
Amethyst Review 