On this day last week
I walked about four miles
Along a coastal path
To meet a close friend
I passed small tables
On unmade roads
Selling secondhand books
And indoor plants
A warm breeze caressed the sun
Shorts and summer clothes
Were the order of the day
And then it all changed
In a matter of a few hours
The bright summer colours
Faded into violent grey showers
We were told that this weather
Was unusual for September
Vertical winds were to be expected
Madam Autumn had arrived early
Without as much as a written invitation