September: Hamilton and Jakarta

This used to be my favorite time of year

Leaves turning yellow, orange, and red

Birds in a V, flying their way south

The air turning colder, crisper

A promise of ski-worthy snow and making angels on our backs

Students saying goodbye to parents and hello to roommates

New friends with whom we can study, laugh, and languidly love life

*

Now it’s all gray concrete and sky

Poverty of the mind, of the heart, of the principled soul

And of course, of money

Flood of waste, and people, and glutton

And of course, of water

Stretching to make ends meet

And traffic.  And traffic.  And traffic

*

I miss my wasted youth