cup of runneth over

sienna red maples add trim for conifer's
plaid green blanket
of quiet
till the road opens up to --
a cup of runneth over
the meadow filled with elk

lichen drips off
alder clothes lines

dun curvaceous mounds
the elk rest with tucked legs
beneath their deep chests
nostrils steaming
others stand, grazing
velvet noses down
to the green grass carpet

occasional cherry red rose hips
add exclamation points to --
an already sculptural showing of
buff muscled bodies
rusty chests
silver dollar sized
amber eyes

in the distance
mist hovers over coastal mountains
lacing the giant douglas firs
with a cap of white