Gettin' Nekkid

Last week the trees were still wearing their leaves. 

A few of them had begun doing a slow strip tease,

their golden leaves floating through the air, 

scattering like feathers from a dancer's boa.

They bobbed and dipped in the sun, 

one last number before the intermission, 
when autumn sets the stage for winter.

This morning, the trees were bare, standing nekkid 

for all to see, their leaves in matted swirls on the ground.

The walnut tree across the street still has bits of

gold and green and feeds the happy squirrels 

that live in the tree next door.

I can't believe this squirrel let me get so close. 

I suppose it's because he was too involved in his

mast. Even the tree was kind enough to not throw a

walnut THONK! onto my head as I tried to take their pictures.

They sure did hit the ground

 around me hard, though.