Autumn

Leaves falling like snow flakes
Gently settle on the ground
The rusty gold leaf of the birch,
One of the first to fall, I’ve found,
Red Maple leaves look artistic
As they cover parts of the lawn
Soon, all the trees, except the firs
Will stand stark and forlorn.
The mighty oak too, soon, will shed it’s coat so warm,
But not until an east wind blow, and branches can be torn.
Surrounding hills, grey sky above look patchy dark and grim.
And trickling streams wind down to Loch
To break the gloomy scene.
I enjoy the Autumn sunshine, the weather mild by day
Loch waves lapping on the shore, as with the rocks they play
The Autumn sun in in my eyes, it still has summer’s heat
Relaxing by a loch like this, is very hard to beat!
A flock of Jays, then Redwings, take off and fill the air
For can’t mistake the noise they make, and Jays up here are rare!
A large black cloud blocks out the sun
A breeze comes from the east
Then a cold, and stronger wind blows up,
It’s the type I like the least!
In the hills a stag is bellowing, the water now like glass
The wind had dropped, the loch is calm
I have a bite at last!
It’s hooked, it leaps, it tail walks, then it’s on the net,
Just a Pike of 8lbs, puts up a fight you don’t forget!
Then back she goes to her domain, to fight another day
And I contemplate the moment, as I pack my gear away.
Yes, warm one minute, cold the next, rain and snow same day.
It’s Scotland at its most varied.
But who’d want it any other way?

David Willis