Lake Michigan October

cold air flows across the ruins of summer
rains driven to a stab of lonely freeze
by breath of arctic under sky made
steel by swollen clouds obscuring sun
to make metallic taste of cold
the commonality of winter once again

steam reveals the pour of poison
on the cooling air that once was
hidden by the hand of summer heat
open with the dripping of humidity
now become the first trace hint
of approaching ice on chill of world's breath

The air no longer shimmers with
the heat of old refinery
and blast of burning coal or
liquid steel shattering the night with
burning white

tall waves beat forgotten beach instead
retreated from in face of growing cold
heaving water blue-green with the slice
of arid northern air swept down into the tip
of empty inland sea bereft of sail or ship
or rod and reel all fled into the warmth
of dreaming heated homes

Time has almost come for walking miles of shore
centered in the precious gift of solitary silence
footprints frozen into golden sands by  winter
tucked snug between the steel mills and aging blight
of broken cities bound by crime and ice
without a single chance encounter with another soul