A Touch Of Fall Poem by Raymond Farrell

Autumn's acrid fragrance rose
from the forest floor
rotting leaves, dying grass
loudly rustled underfoot
and every step I took
stirred the odor more.

The rabbit's coat
is quickly turning white
I saw one yesterday
my dog gave chase
across a barren field
quickly passing out of sight.

A garter snake crossed
the weather beaten path
scarcely fit to crawl
cold was in the blood
had slowed his tortured form
and robbed him of his stealth.

A coon was up a tree
the dog barked sharp and loud
looked at me wistfully
hoping I would intervene
and bring this creature down
into her gaping jaws.

Black-capped chickadees
flitted in joyous glee
around a clump of weeds
I paused and watched them
too busy to bear me heed
they went on feeding upside down.

I saw from the wood's edge
out on the pasture
three feeding deer
quickly raise their heads
catching wind of the dog and I
they turned and left.

Moving fast across the field
towards the road to town
I heard above the wind
and my footsteps stir
that faint familiar sound
of softly falling snow.