Today’s prompt is leaves.

disappointment and despair 

the showy explosion lasts only a week or two
then the lie is exposed
the bursts of color that promised life and beauty
decay to brown
the leaves abandon their posts
fall lifeless to the ground

all that’s left are stark gray trunks and branches
naked
indistinguishable from death
the cold dark months drag on and on
as snow reduces the landscape to black and white
like primitive television

no autumn sight-seeing for me
it’s all a scam
a build-up to nothingness

©ARHuelsenbeck