Foliage Boats

The mountain stream that fumed
and spumed in spring has been tamed
by fall's entry, no longer raging
in frothy bursts over the granite
boulders hurled down the mountainside
to line its runway; the water coursing
relentlessly, frigid from the snow that
briefly iced the summits overnight
melting in the slanted heat of the
autumn sun. On its banks conifers
and deciduous, the yellow birch
maple and beech slowly dripping
foliage tinged in scarlet, gold and 
bronze stippling the forest floor with
the gay confetti of the season, sending
bright boats of foliage swirling madly
down the fall-tamed mountain stream.