Crisp, cool day
Autumn leaves strewn across
The mulch and dirt of the playground
The sun too bright
Laughter of children as the trees dapple the red
And blue metal
Jungle gym, throwing
Shadows over the children, winter coats
Unzipped, waving behind like capes
As they run, chasing each other
Flying and running
Jumping, dodging
The grass, slowly browning
Wilting
Squirrels burying nuts
For the winter
to come
Spilled coffee in the air
Dusk approaching
The coats zip up, mittens and hats
Appear on hands and heads
The golden glow of sunset
Mothers take the hands of pirates
Superheroes
Princesses and villains
Coaxing with promises
Of warm baths, hot cocoa
-The kind with marshmallows-
Of fleece pajamas and slippers
Pigeons perched on
monkey bars
The playground
Emptying
Fathers in suits
Hassled and on cellphones
Grabbing hands and dragging
Bribing with treats
Dark falling
The playground empty
Swings rocking
gently in the breeze
That ruffles the trees and sends the dry leaves
Skittering and hissing across the brown grass
The squirrel gone
The children gone
The pigeon gone
Mothers, fathers gone
All gone