Thoughts on an Autumn Evening

as I settle
by the fire
on a cold
Autumn night,
the leaves
through my window
catch the sun's
final
light

all day it's been raining-
orange
red
gold
and green

colors
cover
the Earth
like the crown
of a queen

some still cling to branches
reluctant
to go

their vibrance
a memory
of Summer's
warm glow

I tend to the fire
then take
one
     last
          look

turn up the lights
and open
a book