October
is a month of change, I see it in the sky
It is a calm of powder blue but storms are now nearby
The greens of trees are all anew with hues of orange and red
While some of brown have fallen, to make the ground their bed.
And how I wished so hard to have those buds begin to bear
For then the shade will come to me and cool the air I breathe
I dare not think the time will be when all that shade must leave
I lazily looked to quiet space when winds increased their speed
The air was filled with missiles, the ones the wind had freed
I thrilled to see the acrobats as they spiraled to the ground
And then see magic carpets as they circled round and round
Some were green and much alive while others cringed of pain
Part of those had turned to brown as if denied of rain
Brown and curled in fetal shape were those whose time was o’er
Their fall was uneventful as they fell to nature’s floor
Some floated lazily back and forth and took their time to fall
While others fought their neighbors, in spite of space for all
When on the ground some moved about as if in awful pain
Some stayed where they had fallen, not opting for more gain
The wind chased some to corners and they huddled there in fear
Much like the little children when a strange noise they would hear
‘Twas then that I did realize how much our lives did tie
A time to blossom, bloom and serve and then a time to die
They are of different color much like those lives we share
And some are oh so beautiful while others plain and fair
We know ‘tis right to be around when others need our care
Much like the giant oak leaves that stay till others bare
The crispy bits upon the ground in death still serve a need
To be remembered for their role in new lives they will feed
The same for us, success in death, if love of life we sow
And leave ourselves in others so our love will help them grow.
des/2001