Waterlilies

Colors are changing everywhere on the hillside.
The black gum – whose leaves, though auburn,
allow the sky to shine through – makes much
of the first cold nights. Along the edges of the lake,
where our canoe slides by in silence, the lily pads
are changing, too. As we allow the wind to push us,
I notice their backs in the darkest water, hearts
exposed, their colors going green, green, red;
their stalks turned the caution of yellow.