Spring to Summer to Autumn Again

All of nature had a heyday of health with heat
     and happiness (if measured in green...)
Summer trumped the year, satisfied its customers
     and held parties with each blooms budding.

 Pace slows, the late rains begin and aromatic air
     turns dank and misty at its first cool bout.
When the sun returns, the warmth does too,
     but the spiders know their webs are needed now.
The flocks also sense something in the breeze.
The plants hurry their harvest and retreat
     instead of advancing as before.
More becomes few, fresh falls to finish.

Color has the last laugh.   The unneeded unfurl their flushed finale
     and drop to protect the life-giving tree,
     which hoards the rain in deepest root,
     which hardens for the shortened days ahead.
Which day is today.