Golden light of summer
Fading from our sky
Autumn’s softer colors
Come when others die
Birds
They still go swooping
Crying
In the wind
The land has lost its luster
Diggers of gold gave in
Dust has nearly settled
Grass
Smoky and grim
Vines on distant hills
Citrine and garnet strands
Hopeful new arrivals
Transplants by human hand
Blissful wasteland
Left to be
Only place
You feel free
First published in Switching to ON!: The 2025 SebArts Writers Anthology AUG 2025 Wordrunner Press *print only