A Place of Yellow

I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE TRAILS
OF HARRIMAN STATE PARK, NEW YORK
BE THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AUTUMN
WHEN THE LEAVES ARE STILL ON THE TREES
THOUGH THE GROUND CAN BE CARPETED
AS IT WAS THAT OVERCAST, COLD DAY
WHEN WE STARTED TO DESCEND
I, IN THE REAR OF THE GROUP
WALKING MORE CAUTIOUSLY, SLOWLY
WATCHING EACH STEP I TOOK
UNTIL I FELT SAFE TO LOOK UP
AND THAT IS WHEN I REALIZED
I WAS IN A PLACE OF YELLOW WHERE
ALL THE ENCIRCLING TREES HAD YELLOW LEAVES
AS DID THE GROUND ON WHICH I STOOD
THE TOPS OF MY BOOTS COVERED WITH
LAYERED LEAVES OF YELLOW THROUGH WHICH
I WALKED NOT WANTING TO CONTINUE
ON THE TRAIL, BUT WANTING TO STAY HERE
IN THIS PLACE OF YELLOW LIGHTNESS WHERE
I FELT WARMTH ON A DAY THAT WAS COLD AND GRAY.

By Florence Ames

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