everyone was prettier before autumn took over
Birch tree leaves looked s.o. good
And the taste of mint still perfumed the air

chlorine clung to our hair
always
and innocence curled around us
when we slept in the backyard underneath the stars

But now it's as if
someone chose another theme for the world
and the new colors are red and gold with edges of black

if you listen carefully

the cicadas might come back.