omens
past
"
what's
that
?"
he
said
as
he
swam
in
the
lake
near
the
campsite.
i
swam
over
and
took
a
look
:
a
single
bright
red
maple
leaf
floating
on
the
surface
of
the
still
water
.
"
it's
an
omen,"
i
told
him
.
"
an
omen?"
"
sort
of
like
a
sign
that
you
have
to
know
to
read
.
it's
not
words
,
but
it
shows
the
future
if
you
read
it
."
"
the
leaf
can
tell
me
the
future
!
what
does
it
say
?"
"
that
summer
is
almost
over
,
and
soon
it
will
be
fall
."
220903
...
past
in
the
midst
of
its
thick,
low
canopy
a
few
brilliant
leaves
promise
the
coming
change
of
seasons
,
a
physical
metaphor
that
gives
the
burning
bush
its
common
name
.
230813
what's it to you?
who
go
blather
from