the pond basks in silent stillness
darker bands of rock mark the drawing down of water
the cormorant is a surprise, his bill echoing the fading autumn color
tired old oak leaves that just yesterday offered the soft green hope of spring
they have lived a lifetime in the brilliant flash of summer
does the winging osprey sense the coming cold, cling to the still strong sun as I do on this late October morning?
Laurie Apgar Chandler 