Sandstorm clouds
hover high above the
green and gracious valleys
nestled between the
righteous spines of mountains
blessed with Nature’s
orange and red undress.

Leaves linger in
autumn’s technicolor trance,
celebrating their own death march
with the warmth and gratitude
of an unburdened winter.

New life will rise from
soil sown with the
crinkled ashes of leaves, expired ~
mycelium marvels nourished by
the death born from autumn fire.