First Fruits
Only July, and the first acorns down,
Here and there on the lawn.
Windfalls, surely, they don’t look mature –
Hard to imagine an oak will spawn
From these early-birds I found.
They look too lean, too small and green
To be a mighty giant’s dawn.
Only July, and the first acorns down,
The tree advances a pawn.
Though now I look upon around, I see
An oak with its first grey hairs –
Of little concern, but a leaf on the turn,
Like unattended Summer repairs
On an old and lazy tree.
And there on the lawn, the start of a yawn,
A warning from up-the-stairs –
Only July, but the prep-work is the key,
To start to order its affairs.
Rhyming Couplets 