Autumn light

Late yesterday afternoon Larry/Dad noticed a neighbor's tree, lit up from the west by the low sun. The leaves shimmered golden; one of those perfectly staged autumn moments. Capturing the gold and the contrast with the deeper colors of surrounding trees and shrubs was difficult because of the bright, pale-blue sky framing it, but you can get the idea. I was reminded of a lovely poem by Margaret Kirkland that paints the warm colors and gentle sounds of autumn.

Autumn Muse

Turquoise skies contrast
the gold gingko leaves clinging
to ancient branches, as they did
when druids hid behind their fans.

Appliqued quilts of leaves
warm chrysanthemums, bowed
by time and frost.
Green tomatoes hang.

A red bird and yellow leaves
float in silence
out and down.

Wind-chimes strike the knell
for harvest's end,
sounding the quiet of buried seeds
and hibernating roots,
to come forth
in the staggered timing of creation.