the first
the first
rain sluiced down, a freshening,
needed life-giving monsoon
and with it, maple leaves
in full fall finery a magic
sidewalk mosaic—sunlit yellow
fire red, ochre, saffron, khaki
chestnut, mocha, slick
with moisture muffling
our steps, six between us
four happy paws, two dancing
feet oh, the majesty
of being alive



What a marvelous picture unfolds here, leading to those last sweet lines:
"...four happy paws, two dancing
feet oh, the majesty
of being alive"
Such joy!