Windfelled

We've had frost before now
but this is the first morning we have had snow
and so many of the leaves haven't even dropped yet
the green in some maples not even drained
many still showing yellow
or orange
or more rarely red

I wonder whether the maples are intent
on leaving a legacy this year
along with the apples
that are determined to live on
tempting to the last
with their unfallen fruit
now more likely than not
to be windfelled
rather than picked

the snow is light

and the flakes are large

and not melting

on the lawn

but blanketing the leaves

that have fallen

and muffling the sounds

of the city

in this way the snow is unlike rain

which makes a noise

when it hits the pavement

and rain tends to bring out ambulances

with their sirens

and so the day is sleepy

and seems unperturbed

by the lack of light

for this reason

I am inclined to stay indoors

but that won't answer

my purposes

or help my mood

or hasten the completion

of so many projects

uncovered

in the inelegant Autumn

as the frames of marquis are stripped

of their canvas

and the trees await the coming

of Spring

stark

and unclothed mannequins

striking poses

in the wind.