Grimly holding her brown leaves
The oak stands firm despite the breeze
That made her ashen neighbors bare,
Waiting for the coming snow....

My son and I stand pondering
The coming winter gloom,
Realizing once again
That Frost is on his way...
The truth that nothing gold
Can really stay.

But still the sunlight glows
Sugar maples red and yellow,
Casts glowing gold that blends
Beyond spring's greening yellow power
(But only until jealous winds
And stinging rain taunt and tease
The clattering chorus into drifts
Of oranges and browns).

And so it goes,
The trees will silent stand,
Bereft of leaf and bird...
The only song a mournful
Wind-sung dirge
Above the emptied nests,
Fall-budded branches,
Stiff and dry,
Sap sunk to safety
In the ground,
And all the upper world
Be drifting
Off
To
Sleep.