ZNE Art & Poetry: Autumnal Equinox Paradox

Autumn's chill, like a familiar malaise,
creeps slowly into my soul:
a myriad of colors, falling leaves;
this change of season serves not to calm me.

Here in the mountains, God's paintings you'll see:
colors of red, orange, yellow and green.
How soon it will change, falling leaves on the ground,
little critters playing in the snow, making sweet sounds.

You can feel and smell the chill in the air;
winter's just around the corner.
I embrace the autumn, for its presence is fleeting.
I relish the breeze as it tousles and plays with my hair.

Autumn, the season of gathering and saving
for the harshness that is to come.
Also, the season of my life
where I gather my thoughts of what has been,
and ready myself for the final season of my life.

And that season has come so quickly.
I feel I have but a moment to share,
And that I guard ferociously!
Ahhh, time! How cruel is thy keeping!

But time plays tricks on the young as well,
for it goes far too slow. The ticks and tocks
drum on forever when you're waiting for a bell.
And what about the young at heart?
What is time to them?
Friend or foe or death-knell?

Me? I hate the clock.
I hate the rush; I hate the wait
Time keeps me from those I love;
Fighting time is my fate.

So is autumn's chill my warning,
or is it my re-birth? Everything feels
new again on a September morning.

Oh, to have my Septembers back once again-
School time, new schedules and routines.
It's time for her to be home soon;
I love hearing her call out "MOM!"
Yes, September, I remember.

I think of October and all it will bring-
Pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns,apple pie and ice cream.
Our Annual Fall gathering brings family and friends
together once more before snow begins.

Mother nature dons her cloak of colors
and frosts the lawn with dew.
A crispness hangs in the evening air
As summer says "adieu."

Adieu! Adieu! Oh sweet summer, adieu!
How quickly you have left my life;
now darkness comes so early!
Oh sweet summer, how I will miss you!

Warm woolly sweaters,
a cozy fireplace
fresh baked bread,
warm and cozy in my bed.

Dreams of the coming months ahead
bring delightful thoughts of baking bread.
How great it will go with soups and stews,
keeping us warm inside too.

Before you know, it's Ole St. Nick,
sailing the skies and showing us his tricks.
Carrying the bag down the chimney with ease,
surveying his domain; he is always so pleased!

There's still time for trips to the cider mill,
the warm donuts and sweet cider all chilled,
a nice walk along the lake. We sit and listen
to autumn's sound:
The leaves falling and crinkle under foot.

The sky is truly golden
as in a Maxfield Parrish print.
The harvest moon shines brightly,
And the fields have an earthy scent.

I'm thinking how the fall leaves would look
if I added them to a page in my scrapbook.
Along with all the pretty things I've collected
from things in the woods I've already selected.

Too soon another year will be in the past,
and a new beginning with new dreams
will soon arrive.
Old friends, some gone;
new friends to meet.
Make of it what you want-
another clean slate
to create.

I love the thought of atonement, reflection-
a new beginning, a different direction.
My heart flutters like a leaf in the fall, and
where it will land, anywhere at all....
will be home.

Who could dream that cruel time can also be kind,
teasing me with fall, winter and the stark reality of it all,
yet also promising another spring, another summer?

For as much as the ups and downs, the beginnings and ends
of the cycles of my life bait and frustrate me,
they bring new hope, whispers and teases,
of new life yet to come, yet unknown.