Metamorphosis

From my walks of September 17 and 18

Rhododendrons creep
Stealthily on my porch.
Just what do they want?

 

Mirrors everywhere--
In the house, on the windows--
Through the looking glass!

 

 

Dead leaves from last Fall
Still hanging from the thin branch?
Or is time confused?

 

Chicory limb bends
With the butterfly's landing,
And then bounces back.

 

Silent shadowed road;
Far in another country
Machines grind and growl.

 The ravaged tree trunk
Absorbs the morning sunshine
Through its many holes.

Lichen and green plants
Thrive on the rotting tree trunk:
Metamorphosis!

 

 

Into cool shadows;
Into the hot blinding sun;
It's just a few steps.

 

  

 Yellow leaf appears
Through the sun-glowing green leaves.
Soon there will be more.

 

Far in the forest
Tree trunks merge with the sunlight--
Shadows or substance?

 

 

A fellow walker
Doesn't even know I'm here.
(I'm OK with that.)

 

Pregnant milk weed pods
Swell in the morning dew;
Will release their seeds.

 

 

 Golden goldenrod
Basks in a patch of sunlight.
Lives up to its name.

A crow is shouting;
Nobody is answering.
Still he continues.

Every day it shrinks,
Leathery  lizard carcass,
Pulling to itself.

Today the woods sing,
High frequency and tuneless,
 But unrelenting.