Intruder

trees of autumn fire

yellow, brown and red

sinking in the mire

bowing down their heads

whispering that all things

ceases to exist

apple cores and smoke rings

lovers in the mist

remember what

you came in here for

that he had to go

sooner than you'll know

you're an open door

to an empty store

fill the shelves again

fill them while you can

in comes the intruder

our least expected guest

he tiptoes like a cougar

and finds us at our best

struggling for protraction

seasons in the sun

(one more season in the sun)

begging for one last fraction

of what we had begun

remember what

you came in here for

that the bells will toll

sooner than you know

you're an open door

to an empty store

fill the shelves again

fill them while you can

with a list in his mind

and a hole in his eye

and a hood on his head

and our time on his side

and a scythe in his hand

and a broad smiling face

and a hovering walk

and a bend on his back

he has come to collect