Maple Shiver

Soft maples shiver, their thickening sap withdrawn Birds sit silent on the glistening crust of dawn Autumn's trumpet sounds on the shifting mountain breeze Rattling pale cornstalks with the hint of coming freeze Skies grow quiet save for the honk of passing "vees" Slowly in a garden work the last of "busy's" bees Cut fields will slowly wither in the waning warmth of fall Scarecrows hanging limply long for raven's call Field mice idly amble to the shelter of the barn The cat will now have more to do than play with balls of yarn For summer came - and went - too soon While coyotes howled beneath its moon Yet as the shivering maples shed They know, in spring, they well be bled John G. Lawless 8/21/2020