On the motionless branches of some trees,
autumn berries hung
like clusters of coral beads,
as in those fabled orchards
where the fruits were jewels…

-Charles Dickens

Someone stole into my yard overnight and decorated my trees with jewels.

Hung them with glittering rubies;

made them heavy with sapphires and amethysts;

and accents of yellow topaz.

And so it begins, the extravagance of autumn; getting all dressed up for the ball. Adorning herself with her pretty baubles, admiring herself in her finery; but all too soon she will be covering it all up, in a cloak of silver and white.

Oh, I love fall, but I am so aware of winter, waiting icily in the wings.