Babushka's off!

Take off your babushka
on the old ladies' summer day!
In some cultures
you gather mushroom -
in others you pick apples.
Michaelmas in one place,
St Martin's summer
in others languages -
and from the 18th century
it is called Indian Summer.

That is what we have today
a gorgeous day - not too hot
not too cold after a spell
of chilly mornings.
I still applaud the old
grandmothers who take off
their babushka on a hot day
letting their hair low
in the free floating breeze.
Just now I am that girl -
letting herself be warmed
forgetting for an instant
that I am a babushka too.


Babushka is a head scarf
as well as a granny