Faded scarlet, buttery yellow,
     sway above the tawny trail
to Fisher Point.

Frantic tail
fills the hole.
      Winter preparation.

Chit, chit, chit!
         Autumn-busy squirrels
          aren't as noisy as other hikers.

Random rill
     capers and cuts a course....
                    rewriting the old road.

Stepping from shadowed forest,
   sunlight diffused -
fog wraps distant peaks.

Pines and fir drip
      in early morning mist -
Rainbow over brown ferns.

Rusted water wheel;
   sits silent in the ripples
        rushing past.