Burning Leaves

Fire strikes at dawn in the forest,
the sun's hot rays 
igniting maple trees, 
melting frost to beads of dew.
The trees glow fiercely yellow,
consumed by Autumn's patient burn. 

The doe stands beneath 
a million dancing flames,
silent until she steps and stirs 
the embers, orange to brown,
the crackle of fallen leaves 
smoldering sweet with incense.

Scott Speck
11/10/2000