The Shift

Listen to the wind,
Hear it howl,
Autumn leaves fall, 
Floating in the air with the cool breeze,
The lake frosty as the cold sets in,
The critters finish gathering their scraps before snowfall,
Watch them scurry,
Squirrels playing amongst themselves in the trees and the forest floor,
Birds chirp and fly,
Their last flight before they head south,
As the sun sets and the moon rises,
The night creatures come out,
Owls call, their sounds flood the silence, 
Raccoons fight over food;
Their survival depends on it,
Every animal preparing for the inevitable freeze that awaits them,
Day after day,
Snow falling,
Colder temperatures settle in,
Winter is here.