Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

Through long, sweet summer days,
Beneath the green cover of chlorophyll,
Golden, orange and scarlet red
Simmer, banked fires in the treetops.
Autumn frosts snap off the switch;
Photosynthetic factory closed down.
Greens fade, like timer fuses
Burning down on Independence Day,
Until:
Firecracker showers of
Sparking colors
Spiralling
Down
to
Earth.

Betsy McKenzie, Oct. 24, 2006