unfinished work

the fence needs
work. a coat of stain before
the cold sets
in. the trees are already
bare.
how quickly it comes.
the frost.
the shiver of north winds.
the low sky of a puddled
sun. but the fence,
both sides.
wooden and pale,
half done,
stretches along
the cornered yard.
time has passed
too quickly to finish it.
the buckets sit nearby.
untouched. a stiff brush,
tossed down.
it's dark
before you want it to be dark.