The frozen world
creates the leaf’s
next incarnation of beauty
Frost Beard
The stump
wears a stubble of frost
autumn’s five o’clock shadow
Dried
Before the first flake falls
the dried wild flower
shares a flurry of beauty.
Golden Thread and Meadow Ribbon
A sparkling of frost
gloriously gift wraps
the meadow.
Destination
Through the dried grass
the wooden path
leads to winter.
Thankfulness
In all her dazzling displays and subtle simplicities
nature’s ever evolving beauty nurtures
the ability to be grateful.
Rust
As winter edges closer
the woods become rust and grey.
Only the sound of one’s own footsteps
mulching leaves
interrupts the silence.
Cold Creek
The creek moves fast cutting its way
through the meadow towards the river
trying to outrun the inevitable freeze.
Opening
the entrance to the marsh
calls
be part of the peacefulness
Unfailing
A sliver of moon
the morning star
day breaks
Embrace
fingers of moss
entwine the old tree
a lover’s goodbye embrace.
In the Highest
Heaven’s joy
reaches out to us
in an extravagance of colors.
Encouragement
last year’s pinecone
inspires this year’s seedling.
Homemaking
seeds take
feathered flight
for monarchs’ sake.
Union
Mist marries
the mountain
to the lake.
Perseverance
Although it has been ages
since the corral gate has kept anything in or out
it still refuses to let go.
Circle Theory
At each ending a beginning,
at each beginning an ending.
Infinity.
Neighbor’s Light
Before the sun fully rises
the neighbor’s light across the way
is my kind companion in morning’s solitude.
Bunting Season
Even as decay begins to steal away their color
orange leaves wave brightly
celebrating fall until the very end.
Pileated
Red cap matching cranberries
the stealth woodpecker
taps out his morse code.
Old Man Frost
leaves his whiskers behind
when he runs through the woods
chasing moonbeams and sunshine.
The Other Side
Turkeys hurry
to get to the far side
of Thanksgiving.
Yield
The garden’s harvested bounty
carries a weary spirit towards spring
in the colors of dried petals and the promise of seeds.
Remains
Only a tiny ember
of fall’s glorious fireworks
remains in the landscape.
Rock Blossom
Granite grows a rose
with lichen petals and lichen leaves.
The Bird Box
In silent anticipation
the whole marsh waits for
the grace of the bluebird’s arrival.
Preparation
The forest bed is made
and awaits animal dreams
and blankets of snow
Morning Mist
the sun will unveil
today’s mystery and magic.
Awake
I dream
of golden clouds
and painted fields.
Foothold
the ancient ones
leave their footprints
above and below the land.
