Warm shades of September

pop up on trees of grey.

Amber golds, ruby reds,

garnets and orange fire opals, too,

wake up branches with punch-packed hues.

Colors of flame enthrall like watercolor paintings,

but no charge.

How lucky are we?

Shimmery shades in the sunlight

bring back flickers of times gone by,

too many memories to recall.

Blurry images of yesteryear--

good or bad?

Right or wrong?

Doesn't matter anymore.

A collection of gems are waiting to be plucked,

available for a limited time.

Living and breathing gems crinkle up and die,

making room for new life,

but staying alive in innumerable ways.

Trees are sad again,

branches spindly without gemstone foliage.

Their sorrow is short-lived.

Next year,

the jewels return to dazzle and delight.