The spring equinox has fertility festivals,
but the autumn equinox is less fun--
At best, thanks for enough food for winter.

But a few people still gather at
Stonehenge, Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza,
looking for special shadows or their lack,
or to watch the sunrise between two stones.
In Japan, Buddhists watch the sunset
in the due west where the afterlife is.

It's the beginning of the end of the year,
Nature getting ready for winter --
Trees begin their hibernation,
but dress in their best.
Insulated from nature's beauty,
we watch football. Roll Tide.