Arboreal Count

My abacus, as seasons flow
changes hues and shades day by day;
jewel leaves in sinuous row,
announce change in a gradual way.

Row one: glossy emerald in spring;
still climbs higher; berries appear,
reaching out and spiral tendrils cling,
altered pattern, lichen, scraping deer.

Twisting and sliding, each jewel leaf,
counts, measures, numbers days it has,
outlining then, shape of stalk or sheaf,
on the vine, tangerine and topaz.

Counting days, season passing by,
changed, to rubies, garnet, burgundy,
thinning foliage beneath clear blue sky,
sinewy cord shrinks on the tree.

Nature's abacus in colors count;
add, subtract, the season reckons.
Days calculates, temp, amount,
as silver and pearl snow fall beckons.