life falls away
a brilliance of light
and colour
paint its elegy
not long ago
it warmed the forest
embraced
a thousand birdsongs
and sang along,
yet now
it hears no more
the winged affirmation
of earthbound angels
nor does it dance
as partner to the breeze
no, life has fell away
returned to sodden earth
where colour and song
hold no sway.
The tall elm writhes
and sighs
at your touch
a gasp
from spreading boughs
as your unseen fingers
find places never known
by the lesser elements
she scatters her leaves
which turn and trip
a terpsichorean flight
of wayward grace
upon your breath.
Naked, she shivers,
though not with fears,
save the fear
you will not grace her
with another kiss.
autumn in low morning light
the lazy sunrise
and half golden glow
gilds the dew
misting on spider webs
that thread together
the last dead buds
of summer’s spent roses.
I cast myself to the skies
to fly among the final geese
those that go by night
screaming their last goodbyes
as they discard this northern fall.
For a moment
I’m sure I understand their calls
both soulful at the loss of one summer
yet hopeful of that new one to come.
Dare I too, as each winter approaches,
anticipate a fresh spring?
the last rose opens
and waits for the first tear
of this uncertain season
to turn black and fade,
as in autumn’s death
is shown summer’s reason
the late swallows left
and as they headed skyward
for southern sunsets
so the trees
in which they played
all summer long
weeped in sorrow
and their leaves began to fall
the autumn beckons
and must I reckon
on eastern winds
and zephyrs west
will winter’s death
release its breath
or should we be with
Indian summer blessed.
fall bewitching earth
with a forgotten magic
hidden in the leaves
he found a mirror
obscured under autumn leaves
reflecting on fall
the ghosts of dark wild horses
run through late autumn woods
dead leaves mark their courses
and mark black earth with blood.
I dream of their rank spirits fired
their breath of winter’s stale
in their tracks all hopes are mired
and left dead in their trails.
the blighters rock 