Nature's Wastefulness

North Amherst, 10/9/2013 (orange specks are leaves in flight)
Photo by S. Vardatira

Outside the youth center, between the liquor store 
and the police station,
a little dogwood tree is losing its mind;

overflowing with blossomfoam, 
like a sudsy mug of beer;
like a bride ripping off her clothes,

dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds,

so Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene.
It’s been doing that all week:
making beauty,
and throwing it away,
and making more.

             -- Tony Hoagland (for more on Tony Hoagland and his poetry, click here)
             
Tony Hoagland's poem is all about spring, of course, but it perfectly describes what's going on outside now, except the trees are maples (and more) and the white petals are varying shades of red, yellow, and orange leaves. Simply beautiful.