Secrets
Like stellini d'ori, like
little crescent cookies
like
the smooth sweet sound of apple butter and autumn and the taste of smoke
Like the cold crisp crunch smell of wintertime and snow
and hot cream cocoa after the sharp sight
of splitting wood for crackling fires
and safe warm nights watching
golden sparks climbing like catseyes in the soot-dusty fireplace
Like soft silk swish, like
new clean clothes
like
the bright springy grass under bare feet and the taste of fresh
Like the scrape, scape of rough tree bark that breaks off in crumbly dirty bits
and makes the air taste like earth
after the clear smell of candied violets on a wax-papered platter
and rain-wet days climbing up
grey hills that crunch with mud and grow damp green moss like jewel-skinned frogs
Like rolling, lllling sea, like
great cool covers
like
the gritty slidey stingy smell of salt and sand and the taste of sun
Like the sweaty grimy garden hands and proud mouthfuls
of the late-night evening and the golden gleam of firefly lights
playing secret silent games between grass grown tall
and tired hot afternoons waiting between
fat strawberries glowing hot red outside and inside ruffled white feather-sweet
Like snappity crackle crunsh, like
dusty quiet corners
like
the shape of horses bringing black shadow-people from their orange-brown houses and the taste of leaves, turned
Like the glopping water noise of creeks and rocks and cold flat stones
and nuts round and satin-skinned under long cool fingers
hay in solemn soundless standing in the flat brown fields and smelly spotted pumpkins
and hidden-treasure mornings walking in
purple briar canes tugging gentle flannel while invisible birds whir wordless wings
Like grey reeds snow-fuzzy on icy green water,
Winter would feel like sleeping
Like hundred-million chirps hidden new-grass froglets,
Spring sounds like growing
Like warm full tight-skinned tomatoes in a garden basket
Summer smells like dancing
Like long dry dirt roads creeping away
Autumn looks like getting quiet and feeling awake
And
Like sweet/tart crispy crumbs and fork-print decorations, like
hidden cherries and squishy special bottom crust, like
steam holes and cinnamon,
The whole year tastes like pie
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