The Dance of Autumn by Vicky DeWald

A brown willow leaf taps my hand.

Shall we dance?  I look up

Marshmallow fluff, swift through azure sky,

Sunlight sparkles, a million shattered diamonds

Glittering on the waves.

The red burning bush bows to the tall thistle

She tosses her plumes with a flip

They swirl, and they twirl and they dip, dancing

To the crickets harmonious song.

A lime green miller, bumble bee and monarch butterfly

Flutter by and linger over bright faced daisies

Periwinkle dragonflies cruise low, racing by

A frog squats in the grass, warming in the sun

Watching warily with one twitching eye.

Shocks of yellow, tufts of gold

Tucked among fifty shades of green

A flashing silver fish leaps out of the bay

Twisting for its lunch, with a splash

Thick reeds and rushes wave it away.

A breeze rushes across the water

To join in the celebration

And the willow, leaves “all aflutter,”

Swings and sways,

Long tendrils trailing around her.