Saw An Oak Turn Red Today © Daniel K. Statnekov 1988 Saw an Oak turn red today Falls comin' sure as balin' hay The summer heat has lessoned some As has the sound of insect's hum Corn's been down now 'bout six weeks Fodder's chopped, the silo creaks And pumpkins layin' on the vine A promisin' pie, you know the kind Fields of stubble all in rows Luring deer along with does Their looking for an ear or two Left out for them and in plain view This Autumn time that's nigh upon Minds me of those years'r gone And chestnuts roastin' on the fire Rainstorms that turned the roads to mire Preserves that mom put up in jars Before we drove to town in cars The oaken bucket, water well Cows coming home with tinklin' bells The steam smell heat of barn and stall Another memory of Autumn's Fall A country scene I'll nare forget No matter what the age I get Seems the critters all about Knew seasons changin' without doubt Storin' food in holes and dens Cept'n those we kept in pens And longer shadows shade the lawn Days are shorter, colder dawn The streams more lively, seems to know Soon winter freeze'll make it slow We used to watch the signs to see How cold a winter it would be Caterpillers creepin' crost the road Their stripe a tellin' nature's code And furry coats on stock, like sheep Another sign that meant a heap When Autumn's chill a message sent Into their brains just what it meant Us human bein's piled up wood Getting ready best we could Drinkin' cider, sour mash And puttin' by a little cash 'Pears no different than the rest What we do to make a nest When Autumn's blush of color warns Us winter's comin' with its storms.