Seasonal Depression

Welcome to October

please lay your head

on the twisted willow

let its branches

take your hand

in its gnarled wood

lies

the respite

you deserve

here is a blanket

made of leaves

and soft mud

and

fears

to draw it

you must

rub your feet

together

like

a cricket

let it crunch

over your body

until it forms

a

cocoon

the smell of night

and fire

carries

cold breeze

lingering

on the stars

we have picked one for you

and will hang it at your

bedside

should you need to

get up

in the

night

we ask that you keep

your medications

and secrets

with the nurse

at all

times

and if you need a key

to the bathroom

do not hesitate to

ask

you cannot leave

until the doctor says

it is so

check the smoke

signals

the charting

check for

footsteps

in

the

snow

see

smell

hear

taste

when the nights

get colder

and summer loses

sleep

when your mind starts to run

on less daylight

on

more sweets

we await

to rest you

and to offer you peace

in October

where you always

find

a way

to

sleep

sweet