*{shared with @dVerse Poetics Open Link}

Once more
These late summer days
Unfold into glorious
September Gold

First Phase — SKY

Sky blues
At an all time high
Blue, blue, blue
So blue ~ I could even fly

Second Phase — EARTH

many harvest colors
scratch the landscape ~
old brown hardwoods
new roadside reds
bright orange edges and
yellow sunshine golds

just simple stubble
on these ancient hills
sticking out —
like an old man growing
a brand new beard

orchards sit
on both sides of the road
plentiful red delicious apples
ready for picking and
offering apple cider makings

Third Phase — WATER

summer droughts
have parched the lands
and stilled rivers
but now
from around the bend
over and across the cove
moving down river
Cyrstal Springs and
Sugar Creek waters
begin to flow again

Fouth Phase — PEOPLE

framed by tree bridges
campfires and paddle boats
new campsites dug in
tents and trailers
fill every nook and cranny

fairy tales
fly out of story books
stories abound —
cane pole fishing and
catching rainbow trout
for iron skillet cooking

grandpa
tapping maple trees
for their sweet sugar sap
stirring up golden brown
home made country syrup

Fifth Phase — SPIRIT

And I . . .
watch each new sunrise
listen to the morning blue heron calls
pray for peace and some measured joy
then
with one step
walk out again
along these Ozark woodland trails
now through overgrown shores
waiting to hear the call to stay!

Once more
These late summer days
Unfold into glorious
September Gold

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