ƒ/1.68 • 1/737 • 6.9mm • ISO194
October 28, 2026
The Last Ember
No whisper calls the branch to yield,
No warning chills the fading air;
It settles on the quiet field,
A scarlet star resting there.
The green below still clings to light,
The curled brown folds into decay;
A single ember burning bright,
Before the color drifts away.
It holds the warmth of summer past,
A crimson seal upon the lawn;
Content to be among the last,
Before the quiet frost comes on.
A study in late-season color saturation along the ground level. While the broader canopy has largely stripped to bare gray branches, isolated pockets of vibrant scarlet sugar maple foliage remain resting over the damp understory and green lawn before heavy frost arrives. This perfect specimen is from ‘Dad’s Tree’. I had this one planted in the front yard in memory of my Father, Donald Fisher.
Field Notes: Low-angle close-up capture on the Google Pixel 10 Pro, focusing on the symmetrical form and crimson veining of a fallen maple leaf resting against the drying duff.