Half the Leaves Mud

Adrian Higgins, US

Adrian Higgins is a British born garden writer living in the United States. His work can be found at www.washingtonpost.com

Half the leaves mud,
The others linger, but for what
I do not know.
Their work is done.

The verdant machines
of summer seized now
by the emptiness
of chill November.

When they turned
a month ago,
It was as apple cheeked
Villagers, revelling in harvest.

In chill November
the blood has drained.
What once was amber
is grey-like yellow, and changed.

So cling until Mother Tree
Says no more.
Unprized, prised by
Your budding successors.