Wry Smile of Autumn

fall the dreams
of silent petals

to drift
upon
still wind

tree limbs
caricatures
of
once known
life

before sleep
the spirits who reside
inside
trunks
of
scarred bark

take a peek
out of knotholes
perhaps
even
the old
abandoned homes
of
woodpeckers

to see the silent street
where not a car passes by
laughter from children
this summer

has disappeared

paper carton
rests on curb
the bodies
of dead flies
stuck to
hardened
sugar glaze

colour tones
of autumn
brings a smile

sad
perhaps

even
wry

to the face of trees

before they go to sleep