Vivid crimson, golden fall leaves
Crisp and wrinkled, large and small leaves
Fields of corn turn sun-dried saffron
Last truck filled with harvest’s haul leaves
Critters dig in winter burrows
Each geese flock with farewell call leaves
Hay in bales and grain in silos
Sinking sun in shadows tall leaves
Cold wind carries winter’s first snow
Bare trees wait return of all leaves
Now the summer’s heat is fading
The sun begins retreat
Though the leaves, still green, be shading
And the birds be singing sweet
For the flowers cannot last
And the fruit falls to the ground
And the seeds and nuts are cast
And the leaves get dry and browned
Though the warm sun still needs shading
And the green leaves cast their spell
Yet the summer’s heat is fading
As the birds sing farewell
I wandered through a tangled wood
I saw dead leaves come falling down
I heard the cries of flying geese
I smelled the scent of autumn’s brown
I felt the hint of winter’s chill
I knew that summer soon would end
I tasted snowflakes on the breeze
I saw winter round the bend
I turned and saw the setting sun
I watched the last birds leave the nest
I heard the fading summer bugs
I smelled the roses at their best
I felt departing heat waves’ scorch
I knew that night was shortening day
I tasted garden’s last fresh yield
I saw summer slip away
I said so long, but not farewell
To every autumn leaf that fell
For summer will return again
I feel it far off in the wind
The woods are dark and lone and deep
The path so long that we must keep
The tangled vines weave webs below
The thorny stems and branches grow
The thickets shut out light up high
The ravens in the distance cry
The darkness grows at every turn
The vining leaves with poison burn
The only choice is forward go
Through woods so deep and dark and low
The woods are not so dark and deep
If only to the path we keep
The vines protect the earth below
Berries and fruits on branches grow
Our eyes adjust to light up high
Our ears hear ravens call not cry
Our courage grows with every turn
And in the distance now lights burn
Because we chose to forward go
Through woods so deep and dark and low
Rain pours down with silent splash
Lightning strikes from cloud to ground
But never does the thunder crash
When silence is the only sound
Traffic speeds by, buses stop
Trains and semis shake the ground
Without a rumble, honk or pop
When silence is the only sound
Children call but none is heard
In the backyard, store, playground
People look – can’t speak a word
When silence is the only sound
Woods and jungles running free
Birds and animals all around
Without the great cacophony
When silence is the only sound
I came upon a lilac dawn
Lake fog mist in purple wisps
Trailing form of last night’s storm
Melting away in gold sun’s ray
Promising the hope of spring
Dawn lingers in purple fingers
Splashing light across the night
Cotton swirled by clouds unfurled
Breaking day to light from gray
Promising the hope of spring
