ELEGY ON THE DOPPLER EFFECT

At last they understand why leaves
Turn red in Fall;
Saw it was not just botanical
But that they are in Doppler's red-shift,
Moving away from them
So rapidly in time,
By that phenomenon of physics,
That by the time they
Reach the tree
To gather autumn foliage,
The leaves are gone,
It is snowing December
And they have changed
Irreparably.