On my way to buy a morning paper #78

Beneath a sorry-looking tree of unknown type

(dusty diseased leaves, green berry clusters)

a circle of crisp and huddled leaves;

colour chart for painting virgin nipples.

Overstaying their welcome

October's crisp and golden leaves,
flown from the tree
landed, rain-soaked and impacted
on tarmac so hard
as to grow leopard spots,
are now merely ghosts of themselves

Revelation

As green turns deep red
becomes scantier, and more orange
last winter's pennant plastic bag
reappears,
More tatty, multi-stranded than ever.

Influence of the wind

Yesterday's scampering, truant-playing leaves
close circle-scrummed damp this morning.