Autumn colours splashed across a rustic canvas

A carpet of leaves on footpath and grass

A sharp breeze nudges and shakes

A flurry of leaf fall like coloured snowflakes

Russet and copper, pale green and brown

Flutter for a moment then tumble down

From palest yellow to deepest red

It is time to prepare for the winter ahead

Colours so delicate in a landscape so fine

Nature is calling and showing us a sign

A time to recover, to rest and to sleep

A time to dream, to slumber so deep

An evening  mist hangs like a delicate veil

Across darkening skies clouds drift and sail

A weak pale sunlight pierces shadows and shades

As the last light of day slowly fades.

C Denis Murphy 10 October 2018.