Fifty shades of tan

   [early March, mid-Atlantic]

Nothing yet budding;

a few dry leaves  from autumn last 

(papyrus-yellow  and paper-thin)

still clinging to their beech trees.

Leaf-litter, windthrow,

straw-stalks,  hay-mow:

all -- tan ochre beige wheat hazel 
fulvous fawn or tawny -- 

-- all as yet  the color of canvas,

for Spring  to paint upon.