Trees

Splash red - A rush of autumn leaves that Bled away their beauty as they Died upon the breeze. Frost. Leaves lost. Stocky frames - Thinning at the dendrites - Animate their colour under dusk: A paling brown, Emerging grey - Deeper, darker - Leads to black: Silhouettes braced for winter, Like monuments of hardiness Against the freeze. Barely hanging overhead, charcoal-grey chassis Buckle under silent flow of ever-stacking billows While stings in the face foretell the ice-blight. An arrow-bound wind builds, Penetrating flesh, Whistling out its warning To the nakedness of winter woods - Fair-weather green coats too fickle for the stay. Summer died upon another eon. Autumn scampered from the chill. But the trees fought back; upheld their dignity - No fuss, pomp, or thrill. Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2010 winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter winter