Dave Bonta's "Autumnal" is a very short poem about settling into a quieter, more sober frame of mind. The title points to autumn, and the first line, "time is short," gives the season a double meaning: the days are getting shorter, and perhaps the speaker feels their own time is too.
The comparison to "a poet living on ink and sad stories" is both funny and bleak. It suggests someone surviving on words and melancholy rather than anything warm or nourishing. Yet there's a hint of acceptance, even a wry pride, in the image.
The last two lines turn on "hope." The speaker says it will not burden them "again / with summer thoughts." Summer stands for optimism, energy and expectation, and here those feel like a weight rather than a gift. The mood is wistful and subdued, but also calm. The speaker seems less despairing than done with false cheer, ready to face the cooler season as it is.