Autumnal Variegation

In the final week of summer
rippling lake waters shimmer
and shine beneath a blue sky
in which a flock of fluffy clouds
wander about inviting contemplation
though paddlers look longer
down the sparkling way
where bright lines of light
flash
flicker
play
within a late green shoreline
lit up by vibrant early reds
first     carmine    vermilion  
scarlet    burgundy beacons
of seasonal change
a single leaf
on a blueberry bush
a branch full
on a maple
an entire tree
there
there
there
heartening beauties
visual warmings 
amid the cooling breezy air 
   
See it
    smell it
    feel it
         the turn
to autumn 

By the next week’s equinox
every morning reveals
incremental changes 

One day
one branch on
one Oak
who stands sentinel
near the Widow Wyile’s house
greets the day
    in vivacious yellow
bright paradox
that becomes warm
    oak leaf brown
on the morrow 

And so bit by bit
through nights and days
in differing measures
some of which seem sudden
autumnal resplendence is upon us
even as the twirling fall
of leaves d~
       r i f t~
               i n g
d a n ~ c i n g
through    a i r
across    g r o u n d     surfaces
at the whim of ~~~ winds ~~~
   and  b r e e z e s   begins 

And every day
a few more
fall fruits
apples
pears
plums
sit plump
upon the grass
awaiting the first
to notice
and consequently often
nibbled
by wasps and bees
voles and squirrels
crows and jays
and their kin 

In this drought year
the change comes sooner
but remains familiar
the shadows cast by vegetation
di mi nish
as the variety of leafed canopies
go to ground
bit by bit
or in a windy rush 

The many courses
of this visual repast
fill us with glowing
in the moment
of our noticing