By Tom Baideme
2010
Sitting on the storefront step
What a change from weeks before
From the heat and shorts and tees
Now in need of so much more
Now I need a coat and hat
The temps have dropped 10 degrees or more
Once in need of fan or breeze
Now in need of warmth for knees
Needed bandanas to block the sun
To keep my dome from burn or peel
Now bring out my tams and hoods
Woolen caps and scarves and gloves
Coming to September Ides
Final weeks before the start
Of the harvest of the vines
To press the grapes for juice or wine
And of course there’s Noah’s bane
That seems like months
With not a drop in sight
Now with cold also brings the rain
Making soup of vineyard rows
Dilute sugars on the vine
Without the sun to make them sweet
Signaling it’s harvest time
Begin the race to get it done
To get the crop from vine to press
To store the life blood of a town
To get us through another year
