Confetti falls and breath blows with smoke,
exciting in the moment, but promising hours
of clean-up and a season-after hangover
with hot beverages and dimmed morning lights.

But while it lasts, oh, while it lasts the party is marvelous!

Blazing colors  hung shamelessly across the canopy,
willfully ostentatious for a few days, then tossed away
while the guests relive memories around bonfires,
or cuddle under blankets living one minute at a time.

Squirrels and their friends make pigs of themselves
by taking handfuls of nuts and stuffing their pockets,
and the jack-o-lanterns are too lit up to do anything
but sit passively, dishing out candy to keep the kids quiet.

But while it lasts, oh, while it lasts the party is marvelous!

If grumpy old man winter comes home early
he’ll threaten to call the cops and chase everyone off,
then pretend to clean up by pushing things out of sight,
but until he does we’ll tip back cups of cider all evening.