September Smiles Like Trouble

September Smiles Like Trouble

September walks in soft and sweet,

sun still warm on tired streets.

Sleeves stay rolled, the plans stay loose,

summer acting like it hit the snooze.

You keep the rhythm, late and bright,

same old grin, same borrowed night.

Tell yourself it’s summer still

if you just don’t feel the chill.

September smiles at that pretend.

Plays friend. Plays fair. Then bends the end.

Keeps heat for noon, keeps cool for after,

puts warning signs in easy laughter.

This is the month of almost true.

Almost fall. Almost you.

Almost staying past the line

where “leave” was smart, and “stay” felt fine.

Evenings soften, then they bite.

Breezes flirt, then pick a fight.

Every yes feels light as air,

every kiss feels like a dare.

There’s romance in the way it slows,

in how it lingers, how it knows.

It lets you fall before you see

the gentle shove of memory.

September doesn’t shout or plead.

It watches what you want and need.

It lets you dance to thinning sound

and waits until the drop is on the ground.

And when the nights turn crisp and sure,

you’ll feel it down inside your very core

summer slipped away, it changed it's look

but it still has you on the hook.

September’s good at subtle schemes.

Slow. Sweet. Clean.

It keeps your smile on your face

while it changes what it represents.