Wild Geese

Long necks lead the way
Compass needles pointing south
Winter in their wake

Two versions

One orange falling leaf
Floats against the autumn breeze
Monarch butterfly.

Monarch butterfly
Floating in the autumn breeze -
No, a falling leaf.

Turning Leaves

Autumn polishes
Rubs off summer's patina
Green yields to copper.

With apologies to Basho

Quick as a surprise,
The first migrating falcon
Over Cape May Point.

(A stateside birdwatcher's tribute to the famous haiku by Basho: "Solitary hawk / The joy of finding it / At Irago Point.")