An Autumn Tale

by Sarah Welch and Michael Dylan Welch

First published in Presence #76, July 2023, page 81. Originally written 29 September 2019, on the road from Bothell to Anacortes, Washington, when Sarah was 13 years old. We wrote this to go with our previous rengay, “A Summer’s Tale” and “A Winter’s Tale.” If it weren’t for that, I think I’d call this rengay “Sweater Weather.”

back to school—

a friend asks

about my summer Sarah

maples turning

in the arboretum Michael

city lights on the bay—

the haunted house sign

buffeted by wind Sarah

garden store—

Thanksgiving decorations

at half price Michael

even for the Chihuahua

sweater weather Sarah

moonlit mountain—

rumours of snow

in tonight’s forecast Michael