11/1/22 TNR
I’ve been dazzled these days as I’ve gone for a bike ride
A crazy kaleidoscope covered each hillside
But, wind rises, leaves fall,
We cannot forestall
This transition at all,
But some consequences leave me quite satisfied
Forest floor is afire, a blanket ablaze
Such colors will never cease to amaze
The carpeting covers the coarse corrugations
Accentuating sensuality of earth’s undulations
A scene we can savor through late autumn days
As darkness descends the moon rises
Each weave and wend brings new surprises
Where the woods were once black, I’m now taken aback
First a glimmer, a glimpse
of the moon through the limbs
Then full treetop profile
In high-contrast, stark style
An exquisitely etched pattern, as is nature’s knack
Autumn is fleeting, it goes by so fast
Its splendor is glorious, but we know it can’t last
Cycle through fall’s color wheel
Treat us - cerise, so surreal
Red, russet, rust, gold, amber
Trick us - sticks and burnt umber
Gather joy from each phase as it comes and has passed.
And gather joy from ATA’s Tuesday Night Ride through the fall fields and forests of Ascutney Trails, from the Town Forest trail head, 750 Coaching Lane at 5:45. There'll be a 5:00 warm up lap, for those who can make it. But don’t wait up for me, I'll be out of town this week. There are frights in the night, so don’t forget lights.