The Grape Harvest or Autumn Francisco de Goya y Lucientes 1786
Ushers of the late harvest,
chill days, darkness
turning grapes sweet. October’s
urgent frost singes the fruit.
Fox takes his fill.
Gather what remains.
Press juice, age in wood.
tame the heavy vine.
Summer lives on in our glass,
smoothing rough grief's edges,
and painting the year’s sighs in sharp relief,
to accompany life's brief repast.