Autumn Rain

It glistened in sunshine that soft autumn rain
that fell on the woodland to freshen again
the tired old gum leaves that wore summer's dust.
It kissed every flower and sparkled on fern,
it soaked the dry mosses awaiting their turn
then ran to the hollows where orchids upthrust.

In ribbons of silver it filled every dam
where tadpoles and yabbies and small fishes swam,
then soaked into cracks that hot summer had wrought.
And birds of all colours flew through the big drops
to shake their wet feathers and sing from tree tops
in praise of the succour the autumn rain brought.

At times in the woodland around summer's peak
when hot sun has dried every puddle and creek
the woodlands get dreamy and then it is plain
they're dreaming of April and soft autumn rain.