I mosied into Marshalls

In pursuit of something festive

A little shopping adventure after work couldn’t be too harmful

Still near 90 degrees in September

How I long for the fall

Cool weather, maybe just a long-lost ember

Maybe I can create it on my own

Grab some fall-fragranced candles to burn at home

In the AC

Far from any falling leaves

The shelves inside the store held everything I’d need

And then some

Pretty blouses in every print

Dog toys, purses, chewing gum

I focused on the mission and what I’d been wishing

Went to the candle aisle

It had been a while

So many delicate glass jars with perfect wooden lids

Fragrant wax in between

Pumpkin Waffle, Falling Leaves, Cozy Sweater

I smelled each one and imagined fall weather

From inside the bowels of a department store

Fake foliage on the walls and floor

Which candle to buy

Fall Apples, Cinnamon Spice, or Pumpkin Patch

I wanted to experience each one

I went up and down that aisle lifting jars and lids

It made me so glad

I felt like a little kid – cut loose

In there for a while, I still couldn’t choose

Finally I checked out with jars in hand

One of the candles was called Soft Sand

I walked out of the store, into that late summer heat

In an instant frizzy hair and sweaty feet

Blazing rays beating down on me

Trees still blooming in the Virginia humidity

I stood and looked at the puffy clouds

Pulled out my candles and sniffed

Took a minute to appreciate it – the endless summer

Yearning for fall

Like a child waiting for Christmas morning

Holding my unlit candle Autumn Ball