the failing sun

summer’s grasp fading away

warmth in its slow wane

the wearied leaves that fall

still green, fluttering

Miss  their fire-y time

The late summer pause

the green, now faded and worn

the spasm of color

the dead tree reborn

Each barren branch, now a perch

To spy on stream fish

september to june

timed by the daily bus tide …

grand babe on the way

disordered debris 

ragged, jagged leaf carpet

a promise beneath

deep heart of the tree

sacrificed into bright flame

Ascends as incense

barren limbs stretched

against late fall’s dreary sky

quiescent earth bides

a tangle of leaf

harboring beneath ~ still life 

its bequest to spring

dormant spirit wakes

maddens the soul to anguish

demanding release