Drops - reddish rain on skins
slid dripping, pooled the leaves curled
steps on stems break, gold the dawn awakes
windy wrecks of nests unhinge
needles, twine thru twigs

Ladders leaned
steps for splintered fingers
blossomy buds plucked thru rungs
gone the breezy days we've sung

Apple worms burrow
dig the beaking birds
bees have flown homeward

In September's slanted sun
we gather sweetest reds
crisp the air in branches overhead