Fall Wind Blows written by Nina Ricci

The fall wind shakes the nonsense out of trees

And blows the ne’er-do-wells into hiding 

It upheaves the musks of earth that turn the leaves colorful

And it’s an early sign to wildlife to make their houses sturdy

Like spring, the high breeze shakes leaves 

and builds a roaring voice that rouses the inner man to fear God 

pushing the calloused feelings to the surface and standing hairs on end

It’s intensity builds to a climax like a gripping sermon 

And releases its wrath like a come-along grip— 

All the vessels relax and the playful leaves circle around the ground 

chasing each other like silly squirrels

Dancing to a halt in the dirt

From the porch rails, I watch the ground 

listening for signs of life in the forest 

wondering if it’s alright to breathe 

because it feels like the air has been sucked out of the world

And I’m left standing on an empty planet

In these vacuous moments, time slows down like a walk on the moon

And like a shaken snow globe, the glitter falls till there’s no motion at all

I believe I could right the wrongs if the world stopped like it does after the fall wind blows

There’s a depth of no motion, and a profound “pause” that makes me wonder if people keep time in Heaven?

I rest on my laurels in the great sea of peace that has spread across the world  

When— a rustle behind me in an appointed tree starts the tickle that begins its coarse 

running through the forest like mischief building speed

—Like the wrist flick that strikes the whip

Another fall wind blows

“Fall Wind Blows” ©2023 Nina Ricci Music, All Rights Reserved

Mer's Flies' Ears

Flies have small ears so you have to speak extra loud

They don’t have ears they pick up vibrations

Maybe it’s like, what is that?

-Taps two flat fingers on ledge of table and

nasally phonates dit, dit, dah-dit-

Morse Code

He’s picking up your vibrations in Morse Code!

Mer, flies don’t speak English

But they listen in it!

Maybe your vibrations aren’t in English

How do you know that fly is a he?

He’s not listening

And he just landed on your slice of lemon pie

-Amber gasps and rushes to the counter

at the plate supporting her slice

and puts a dismal spin on the delicate dish

which sends the cool frothy sliver to the floor

(Squish)

Then not a breath passes as the girls

watch the small circle progressing

in ravenous aerials eating up the counter space

as it travels and stops halfway on the ledge and

halfway off

Amber snatches it with grievous grip

like she holds her life savings in a public place-

Mom would have killed you

Muriel, get the newspaper!

I’m going to slap his ears off!

Don’t do that!

Just tell him to go outside!

I’m not talking to a fly!

Hold open the door and I’ll talk to him

Loudly she speaks:

Go out fly, you don’t want to stay in here,

Amber will kill you!

-Amber opens the West End apartment door-

The air outside is spiced with the aromas of autumn:

Damp dirt, burnt wood, and the smells that rise

when rainwater vaporizes,

combined with cinnamon and pumpkin

broiling with cloves on the stove-

Then a breeze like a breath sweeps the curls

of Muriel’s hair-

-The fly meanderers in wide slow revolutions

and tumbles in the whirling wind.

Muriel follows behind like a stern sheepdog

and the fly swerves around Amber’s face

before disappearing into the world

Like a passing car down a distant highway-

Flies do too have ears!