College Town: New Season, New Place Poem by Delilah Miller

A new season in a new place
means the trees
not only litter sidewalks and lawns
with crumbling leaves changed red, orange and gold,
but change location and number,
opening fields anew and covering streets of old.

A new season in a new place
means your new friends
not only discuss unheard-of hobbies, strange streets,
mysterious landmarks and exclusive food and dessert
but they say it with twisted and foreign words,
their speech full of slang and comfort.

A new season in a new place
means you trade what home is:
the quick and hot wind, rich and sharp cilantro,
sun-washed skin and laughing ocean there
for here, with the sinuous woods, crisper apples,
clouds heavy with rain and smiles full of greater care.