Gold is the color of Autumn

I will always associate the color gold or golden yellow with fall. Most of the leafy trees in the southwest turn gold rather than red, orange etc. Be it the aspens in the mountains, the cottonwoods along the creeks or other small odds and ends of trees. Then the bulk of the fall flowers are golden as well. Here are a couple of my favorite shots, one of aspens in Wolf Creek Pass in SW Colorado and the other of Cottonwoods in the Alameda Park here in Alamogordo. Both gold and contrasting so beautifully with the brilliant blue sky!

And to carry the idea a bit farther, a couple of verses I've written over the years about fall and its gold. Yes, it has always been my favorite season and the sheer beauty enthralls me no end!  These poems are from my huge self-published book called Mother-Daughter Lines where I put together my verses with some of my mother's that I discovered after she had passed when I was going through her things. All verses are copyrighted! Well, actually every word that I write here is under the law.

         Autumn Gold

Gold is the color of autumn

   The flowers, the leaves and the light.

As green is the color of summer

   And blue is the color of night.

Pink is the color of springtime;

   The color of winter is gray;

But I love the gold of autumn

   And wish the color would stay.         

                        GMW 18 Oct 63

I

The aspens march in golden ranks

encircling the mountain's flanks

and wait in martial silent rows

while overhead the fall sun glows,

washing with gold, in wild excess,

aspens' parade in autumn dress.

                        II

Within a haze of golden trees

  a stream sang golden songs

I dreamed and hoped that I had found

  the spot my soul belongs.

The cliffs were rust, the sky was blue

  and gold was bridged between

to fill the air and fill the earth,

  for me, their Golden Queen.

                         I & II C: 1990

          Fall Reflection

Golden haze of autumn days

That lead the heart in peaceful ways

And hold the winter’s roars at bay, 

Above the mountains, far away.

Wandering by lazy streams

Where drifting leaves echo the dreams

Of happy past and future sure

With summer’s bounty stored, secure.

A time to savor and reflect,

Enjoy what one must oft neglect—

The sense that when all’s said and done,

One is all and all are one.    

                        GMW,1982

               Untitled

Against a brilliant autumn sky of blue

The trees aglow reflect the gold

Of low beamed sunlight, spread

Across the land. A benediction

For the day, thanks for the

Bounty here at hand.

Those leaves that briefly cast

Their colors proud against the

Steady march of winter, gray and cold.

Stark and sure, invading, conquering,

Comes winter, even here it comes.

But for now, against the brilliant

Autumn sky, the trees glow.

          GMW C; 1997

     Autumn Haiku

Indian summer maiden

Decked in turquoise:    

     Autumn’s bright blue days.

                        GMW C: 1976