Modest November

 Modest November


Modest November slides in without notice

No fanfare, no sirens, no hoopla. 

October has gone with a Halloween bang

Witches on sticks and all carry-on. 


Deep autumn trees now shed their leaves

The weekend saw the hour fall back

The quiet days seem much shorter

And dark nights seem even longer. 


In this month of compressed hours 

We will seek sunshine that is ours

We will stride on piers along the bay

For every old dog has his day. 


We forage sunshine where we can

Beneath the lighthouse facing south

On Dun Leary pier beyond the yachts

Tied up ahead of winter storms. 


Should we batten down the hatches 

Or open sails on choppy waters

Ride the tide as far as Bailey

Try our luck and ride our chances?


Is life too short to hide in dark cupboards

To avoid all risks and to hunker down?

Or should we welcome November

Leave safe harbor in search of winter sun?

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