NOVEMBER

At a certain time in the morning
the leaves glow - the red ones.
Just as though someone had put
the shrub there at the end of the wall,
then decorated it with candles.

The sun, seeing it growing there,
chooses the proper time,
just between eight and nine o'clock
to light the candles,
turning the shrub into its own version
of a Christmas tree.

A lovely thing - for me.
Just for me.

			Lucille Murphy