Here, in California, we can only dream of real fall. We decorate with fake leaves instead of raking up real ones. We buy sweaters only to layer them over t-shirts so we can take them off by mid-afternoon. We visit pumpkin patches in our flip-flops and drink pumpkin cold brew because the hot lattes are just too much.

Clouded.
Head and heart weighty,
Burdened by the murky.
Trouble descends.
Tears take residence.