Fallen leaves

I had a long walk near sunset, taking pictures of fallen leaves until the light gave out. I've been looking at fallen leaves all week. These pictures don't show what I've been seeing in them, I'm afraid, but this one comes closest, maybe. I will try again.

It rained hard through the night. Most of the silver maple leaves fell during the rain. Red maple long since gone. Sumac mostly gone. A few cottonwood leaves hanging on to the top of young trees like crows. (Why the top leaves last?) Aspen and sugar maple still hanging on. My cherry has leaves bright yellow around the black branches and dense red berries.

The ground is soggy underfoot and the gravel path feels just like ground half-frozen. The sparrows are swirling just like blown leaves, and chatting up a storm. I think they like the rain.