Changing (Leaves)

In moves the crispness of autumn nights,
leaving behind yellow days
for the heavy scent of decaying leaves
and unanswered questions.

Ruby maples shed their weight
to be naked in time for winter’s frost.
Aspen leaves skitter across the pavement
to give me a golden road to nowhere.

Arid land turns muddy earth
under clear blue but chilly skies.
Does the old Oak fear change?
I’m too scared to ask.

Memento Mori

In the gully along the trail
Deer bones lay scattered, forgotten toys.
Picked clean of meat and worm devoured,
Set a snowy white in the sweltering June.

Deep inside the sun bleached skull,
The empty arroyo of the eyes
Examines the same small bit of ground
But all it sees is endless dirt.

Foliage hugs the skeleton close
Gripping the shards of deer remains
Grinds the bones into a fine dust
And to each their separate end:

The pulling of body back into earth
I, too, can feel it in my bones.

Alder's Song

I.
My lonely Alder
Deep rooted at water's edge,
Wait a season more.
I am a Willow growing.
You are my King unknowing.

II.
From a simple seed
I will grow up in your shade
With our roots entwined.

III.
My lovely Alder,
Watch my eyes turn up to you
Yet my leaves hang down.
I am a Willow growing.
You are my Love unknowing.

Wandering South

Behold the season that breaths regret
And watch with me, for our sunsets
Within the early hours.
Remember the summer that you cared?
Picked the autumn from my hair
Pretending they were flowers.

The rustling leaves whisper in red.
My weary body aches for bed
Now that the winter's come.
Upon the growth of spring I clutch
Your long forgotten tender touch.
To fallen flame I succumb.

Our love, too, changes like the trees
Leaves foliage begging on it's knees
For one more day of light.
Buried deeply our love would grow.
I would resist the slumberous snow
But I'm too tired to fight.

Passion's bounty, now fruitless yield
A summer love's weakness revealed.
It lay within the season.
Our romance dies with the closing year
How childish for us to linger here
still questioning the reason!

Wave goodbye to love beguiled
In seasons past our summer's wild.
You fill my listless mouth
With all your tired, loveless words.
Like the monarchs, like the birds
Your heart is wandering south.