The Lake In Autumn

Red and Golden autumn leaves fall Leaving trees bereft of a winter coat. Moist lichens drip their beards down Chilly weather beaten tree barks. Leaves now line lakeside paths as the Wind cast them far and wide like sea Spray whipped up on a stormy beach In an autumn storm. The lake, knee deep with fish, carries Discarded leaves on its dark moody Surface under an overcast sky towards The larger river and wider ocean. Now worms working harder in hard earth As greedy blackbirds gather their harvest And crows on branches squark mockingly At walkers passing beneath them. Squirrels dart around gathering remaining Berries among the bones of dead trees And bushes lining a dark glazed path as The hourglass slowly runs down to winter. Nature begins its annual wind down; a tardy Sun, now delayed, grows weaker as the days Shorten slowing the pace of life and nature To the speed of a somnolent garden snail.