German Autumn

Is it possible
that every cliché hides a truth?

The autumn forests of Germany
are just what you expected
with their photogenic, polychromatic
Disneyland neatness.
Replicas of some travel poster
you’ve already seen.

But in their presence,
they fix you with the power
of their nicely judged relations:
their perfect balance.

They make it easier to believe
in some divinity
indulging in just that degree of self revelation
she judges we could stand
if we should look too closely.