Winter

Last roses of summer clinging to bare branches Apple tree, bereft of leaves and fruit raising its arms in mute beseechment waiting for spring Grass still green smothered with layers of colorful leaves Spots of red here and there, smoke tree and euonymus still flaunting their colors for awhile Holly tree coming into its own with variegated leaves and bright red berries Winds will come all remnants of summer swept away too soon In this mild clime, no snow to cover the immodestly bare Decidious trees once so proud shivering in their nudity deserted by birds Tall evergreens sentinels guarding this graveyard of summer holding their own against the railing wind brave soldiers anchoring the earth 'til winter surrenders to sweet spring once more Honorable Mention