Donald and Lydia

© Matthew Word Bain

xanthophylls in evidence as chlorophyll fades out
but the anthocyanins and carotenoids have not yet appeared
at the time this photograph was foraged, the nights were still too warm
these toothy leaves belong to Castanea dentata, or American chestnut
as common as American chestnut trees still are in many parts
chestnut blight tends to set in before they set fruit
on this day, however, was found a chestnut mature enough
to have born fruit, the prickly…