it’s those in between days
now the shock of cold

at dawn but then the old
familiar heat

red flag watch east
of the Cascades

the fires taking off late
the spiders out early

even instinct stupefied
it’s time to accept

the tomatoes on the vine
have gone mealy and sour

there is a cost
to holding out too long

a loss in holding on
I take the chicken wire

off the garden beds
and let the rabbits feast