Heavy gray skies surround ridges

Studded with burnished copper, gold, and russet –

Suddenly punctuated with an exclamation of

Luminous crimson, orange, and yellow and

Still alive with colors of autumn.

We hold our breaths anticipating

The last vestiges of color disappearing,

and being faced with the long dark

Black and white winter.

Trees dressed in finest electric colors

Will soon be bare and offer stark beauty.

From full color to black and white as

Leaves drip from branches like

Water drips from a faucet – slowly and steadily.

Once again time to appreciate the exquisite

Form of each and every branch – the very structure

That makes possible the shape and form

So extolled  and treasured.

Time leads me through life –

meandering as days pass.

Paths lead forward as on

a one way street – yet sometimes

turning me around as if defying

laws of man and nature.

Is this because I yearn for times

past not fully appreciated?

Yet  other times I look forward

to things I have planned, but

still unknown – unexplored –

as if anticipating something

marvelous. However, it is usually

in the humdrum, the everyday, that

I find surprising moments that fill me

with unexpected, startling joy.

Joy lurking in least expected places –

gifts waiting to be unwrapped.

As wind blows

leaves off trees

and swirls them

around me –

nature’s confetti –

I try to take in

the beauty,

the enormity,

the endless

blue of autumn

skies and brilliant

white cotton-like

billowy clouds.

So grateful

for autumn’s

allure and respite

from summer’s heat.

Curvy crescent moon

Lies gently on his back

Swallowing sparkly

Champagne night sky.

You know how you feel all happy inside?

Everything seems right in your world –

When all of a sudden a big place of

sadness opens up in you – you don’t

know where it came from or what

caused it – but, there is no mistaking –

gray clouds have moved in

and stolen your sunshine…

Sometimes I’m fire –

all molten heat and passion.

I can’t escape the burning.

Sometimes I’m  cotton –

soft and tender –

no rough edges.

Sometimes I’m steel –

tough as nails –

don’t mess with me.

Sometimes I’m silk –

smooth, gentle,

soothing to touch.

Sometimes I’m laughter –

clear, bright –

ringing through the air.

Sometimes I’m rain –

tears cut like razors –

washing hurt from my soul.

Sometimes I’m inside –

introspective, searching –

reflecting on life.

Sometimes I’m outside –

gregarious, outgoing –

socializing with all.

Sometimes I’m a mirror –

reflecting, parroting –

echoing all that I see.

Sometimes I’m knowledge –

curious, striving –

educating everyone.

But, seldom am I ice –

cold, hard, and

unyielding to the touch.

I have too much fire for that.

Gracious lady stands roadside –

adorned in elegant leafy green.

Languidly, yet deliberately transforming

until she’s clothed in  finest

fall foliage – shades of coppery flame.

Savored briefly – then in time

she proudly displays her lanky

leafless, barren limbs,

until spring endows her once

again with fresh budding green.

(Every year I think this about a tree on Island Ford Road-just trying to pay homage.)

Music is not music until it’s released from the page –

It’s merely notes on a sheet – longing to be set free –

Perched on paper – black on white – waiting…

Waiting for wings – from brass,  piano, banjo,  guitar, voice…

Waiting to soar to the rafters – rising, growing …

leaving in its wake – cold chills, laughter, tears –

clapping, foot stomping, singing along.

Creating connections, memories, feelings of nostalgia.

Free to truly exist – not on paper,

but in hearts, minds, and souls – alive and liberated.

No longer rooted to paper – lifeless…

No longer merely notes on a page.