Whirling tornadoes of red-yellow leaves
rising before the headlamps
then glide away, still spinning.
Snow down to 5000 feet last night.
Winter wings southward
its cold talons tearing
at summer softened flesh
"Fall back" still a week away;
time changes without
consideration for clocks
or wishes.
Now white flakes appear,
swirling, dipping, fluttering,
jitterbugging with the leaves.
©1997 William Davis