The smoke-tainted wind
brushes graceful fingers
through skeletons of leaves,
discussing the night in whispers
among hibernating trees
whose stately branches
bear night's jeweled canopy.

Stiff grasses laugh in delight
at the campfire's firefly sparks
dancing in ritualistic splendor
above enthusiastic flames
waving them onward from below
to journey upward toward
shimmering brethren above.

Fallen leaves fly forth to begin
their own midnight jaunts -
swirling with the fickle wind, 
they play music to wish upon
with brass chimes hanging
outside the darkened houses
dreaming of summer departed. 

© 1991, Aaron Brown