Patiently they wait, holding their green
while the beeches and sassafras
open the show. They watch
the maples and their neighbors
paint the hills with their yellows,
their burgundies, golds, and crimsons.
Then the rain comes, washing
all but shreds of color to the ground.
And just when you think
that autumn has spent her glory,
you wake to find that the oaks
have stepped onto the stage
to dance the grand finale
of autumn’s wondrous show.