I Forgot to Smile

I woke with a chilly cold autumn day.
Put on my running shoes
and guzzled my coffee.
Stepped outside to start a jaunt
zipped my sweatshirt and
double knotted my shoes.
I look upward to the black sky,
no stars, the storm left remnants
of a cloudy morning and cool breeze.
Stepping one foot in front of the other
my body began to warm up.
Soon the pace was decent enough
I passed a few others, just a few
The world is not visited often
with twilight runners.
Dropped acorns the size of walnuts
lay trepidatiously in my path,
hidden under leaves and branches.
I cautiously step into the places
of shadows and lights, glare
by streetlights and car lights.
Finishing, I see reflection from the sun
just peeking into the dark horizon
giving way to a more cemented pace.
I see the car and start to slow down,
A feeling only a run can pass on,
accomplishment of the now.
I walk to the car, feeling the breeze
I look to see someone near and then I
remember; to smile.
CMM 2021
Winter Solstice
The darkness will now
curtsy Black
Turn to the moon and
stars their back
To raise the shade
Of light again
With winter’s flight
And night rescind
A frost brings a cold
Frozen nip
As the sun travels
The global trip
Giving back the light
from autumn darkness
Now soon to be out of sight
Copyrighted: 2017 CMM