All November
the trees in my backyard
hung their spectre branches
in shame or mourning?
Barren, grey and spindly
the sumacs and their sisters
and the same only yesterday
even as a chattering red squirrel
chased a grey
whoÂ’d flown
from one maple to the other.

But someone must have finally
taken pity on the trees
remembering their early fall
resplendence.

By today's dawn
when I looked out my window
I discovered them decorated
piped in angel cake temptation
soft thick sleeves and vanilla trunks
and once again
pride of life
manifested

12/03/2004