damp autumn leaves

damp autumn leaves in their slow-growing drifts
slide underfoot and make us want to pause
there's something in the grey that each heart lifts
we're looking for the loopholes in each clause
a market day may come and others go
while footprints on the pavement glow and fade
this is a day to take things nice and slow
so many of us hope to make the grade
we wonder at the signs that point to doom
according to the loudest but they change
into a large and pleasant morning bloom
our only purpose is not to derange
we take this sombre weather for a goad
to get us moving on the homeward road