On Guard

tick tocks the days of our lives
fencing for safety of our hearts
blueberry pie or apple-pan-dowdie
we break our own hearts says Shorty
with fanciful expectations
elections whistling dixie
painted faces wiry smiles
counting down to Turkey day
who will be the pumpkin eater
who shoots off their thumb
when a simple thumb’s up will do
if we decorated Thanksgiving day
with Christmas decorations
and Halloween becomes thanks
can we save the leaves of Autumn
and let down our guard?