Red Spear on Elf's Ear Creek

Blessed are you, summer red leaf

Gratitude should be granted

Thanksgivings should be hummed

To the red spear of sumac

Floating in the forest green stream
For you expose the lie of summer

A court of Mosquitoes, Poison Oak

Prickers, Ferns, Marsh Clover
All flourishing, stand

Guard over your early passing

And they cry and moan

Blessed are you, summer red leaf

In you I see the rolling pitch

Endless churning, thump and thunder

Of grinding season on grinding season
This tumbling death of all in all

Blessed are you, poor red leaf

Red spear in passing emerald splendor