before the stars came out

the sky changed tonight
I saw it for a heartbeat or two
pink, as a ripe peach
pink, as a bouquet of spray roses
streaking through the navy twilight
like a tie-dye quilt

but only for a minute
until dusk took over
sweeping the blushing sky away

did you see it too?
right before the stars came out
and the wind held the trees still,
their leaves a bounty of green velvet

it struck me then,
how soon they’ll be gone
just like that bit of peach sky
each leaf turning into a small sunset
until darkness takes over