Johanna Ely, a resident of Benicia for more than 30 years and former elementary school teacher, is the city’s newest poet laureate. (Courtesy photo)

In the trees
all over town
dozens of scarlet handkerchiefs
wave farewell-
that blazing autumn red
how it flutters
then drifts down
into the beaks of migrating birds
the nests of busy squirrels
a color even brighter
than the hummingbird’s flaming head
or the shade of lipstick that I wore
that fine October day
when we last met-
the color of regret.

Johanna Ely is Benicia’s current poet laureate

Do you have insightful, topical or just all around creative poetry that you’d like to share with the Benicia community? Submit your poems to beniciaherald@gmail.com, and they may be published in Friday’s Poetry Corner and possibly online at BeniciaHeraldOnline.com. All ages are welcome to contribute, but the content must be appropriate. You do not need to be a resident of Benicia to submit your poem.

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