gentle in the morning air, this-
which swings upon grey mist
as light and shadow soon appear
among the hush-hush leaves

this winter wet has now beset
within the orchard's glean
where viscid mud and bracken rest
and pearls of rain drops gleam

red berries lure wide eyes that bite
to satiate their gnaw
from limb to branch with claw or flight
for each must heed this call

with roiling clouds of hues and tint
above this valley's lows
these fronts move cardinal quint
in convection's rise and flow

from ages past in lineage lasts
with Raven's heart and soul
upon these western waters cast
through weathered mounts in snow

in this tale as solstice nears
beneath transition's Northwest blow
loyal stewards of this land revered
in humble cedar house repose

receive these then agreeable rains
that nurtures one and all
know this sacred season's reign
as chronicled forward in this squall

-cec

standing straight at pond's edge, cattails—
brown corn dogs on ***** blonde stalks
several with cream colored bursting guts
hang below sky waiting on sail
there, a red-wing black bird clings
as Cirque du Soleil actor's acrobatic feat
trilling its own musical accompaniment

other cattails tilt triangle shapes
reflected side, angle, side complexion
over water's bottomless mirror
colored autumn, by shore's tree leaves,
mallard ducks, and brooding clouds
while black headed chickadees splash out
ripples of Impressionist pigments weave

-cec