Harvest

a spreading elm tree-
leathered fingers deftly weed
the cutting garden
–
flooded fields-
years of harvests
in her hands

freshly cropped farmland
the western sky glows amber
over the harvest
–
the setting sun-
threshed chaff
in the wind

broad fields of amber
spread under a western sky-
gentle autumn rain
–
thinning clouds-
baled hay
in the sun

early summer hay
cut by hand and harvested
drying in the sun
–
short shadows-
winnowing wheat
under the burning sun

a shaft of sunlight-
the autumnal equinox
finally arrives
–
apple harvest-
lengthening shadows
mark the time