Downslope

The leafy hair of summer turns
the freckled face
of fall's
forest floor;
A white beard
not long in coming—

White wine and firesides
Scones and Montovani
Ice-hung windows and
____the twilight-flavoured woods;
these genteel trappings
____of waking hibernation

Don't call
Don't knock
Don't ever be
____ever so
____bold
Unless your name is
Spring.