Winter Approaching

Signs of winter weather
travelling this way, across
field and mountain
and farm and town are
seen in  low hanging clouds, in
a sky of charcoal gray;
Of cold wind whipping
through northern pine trees,
twisting limbs  like the
sway of a hula dancer,  and migrating
birds flying south.  Maple's
dropping their colorful leaves,
covering the ground
like a red and yellow
blanket; Morning  frost on the
doorstep, and late afternoon
like the dark of night