I never can give in to winter gracefully.

It's going. A week ago, I worked with gorgeous fall color reflected on my computer screen from the window behind me.

Now, the leaves are mostly down in a more quietly-hued carpet.

From inside my house, I watch the inmates sent by the city vacuum up leaves I've raked to the street.

And I see the world around me slowly giving way to the browns and ambers of late autumn.

There are still signs of life, rebellious little weeds who refuse to go down without a fight.

But the sunflowers know, and so do I.