CXC

The Seven Days of October: i

And out September went, with all the Sun,

and left us with October and the Rain.

The Cold Rain now, by far the lesser one,

the everlasting joy-banishing bane.

Except that—is it not a little fun?

a rainy, cold, exhilarating run?

Have you ne’er been so tempted to enjoy

the deluge of the storm—as like a boy?

There were so many years when it was so

for me. I did not want to soak my shoes.

But something in the willows told me “Go!

you have but chains of age and loss to lose!”

So, brisk October, I’ll not be afraid

of what you sing, and how your song is played.