AN ODE TO AUTUMN LEAVES
By KATHI HARRIS

Blazing, brilliant, autumn leaves
How I love your warm bright, colors
Shades of yellow, orange, red
Speckled green, brown, almost black
Fall like rain from branches lighter
Leave their clothes of leaves below
Trees get ready for winter sleep

Now trees, whisper, tell us
Did you miss them?
As they fell to ground below
Did you wish them bon voyage?
As they fell from off your branches?
Did you kiss them each one slowly?
Lovingly bid them a safe journey?

Autumn leaves, always leaving
Every year it is the same thing
I will miss you, miss your glory
Miss your colors, miss your story

Ah, but soon will come the winter
Freezing, white, uncaring, winter
Come to spend some time here with us
Making me forget my autumn

I will once again turn inward
Draw upon my patient nature
Grin and bear the sting of winter
Look to warm and happy spring
Ease into the heat of summer
Until once again
My autumn colors will return
Making me rejoice and shout
Welcome autumn!
You're back!
I missed you!

- copyrighted by Kathi Harris

- sponsored by Willow at http://www.magpietales.blogspot.com/