Neutral in the Light

Mousy gray, velvet fog is

moving stealthily between 

half-dressed tree branches 

quietly bumping a leaf or two 

starting a yellow spinning fall. 

Then it drapes the webs 

of small spiders in diamonds and pearls 

revealing their secret locations 

against the smokey air 

in its frozen movement.

It hides the blue heron across the river 

until he sees my advance 

and like his pterodactyl ancestor 

breaks a perfect silence by screeching harshly

in his departure into the grayness 

disappearing like an angry ghost 

over the distant river.

Hidden even closer

breaking the surface of mirrored water

at my side

a Canada loon cantillates a nostalgic song 

as if missing his summer already

and eyeing me to see if I understand.

The Earth is sighing

after the brash energetic show 

she put on all week for the masses.

Then throwing a silky covering 
across her shoulders 

like a Prima Donna

she begins to remove the last of her make-up

just as the final curtain comes down.