Colors of the Season

Red and gold leaves
have infiltrated
the branches
on the tree
outside
of my bedroom window.
I watch each morning
and yet again
before my head
hits my pillow
each night.
How do they
do that?
This changing colors
without witnesses.
Where do
the autumn colors
come from?
One day the leaves
on my tree
are a thousand
shades of green,
the next
not a shade
to be found.
Where does
the green go?
South
for the winter,
or does it hibernate
in the knothole
halfway up
the backside
of my tree
waiting patiently
for the arrival
of spring.
Just once
I would like
to witness
red and gold
as they move in
and change the season
right before
my unsuspecting eyes.