AUTUMN JOURNAL

The days shorten, the hours’ quicken
fates are spun in the southbound flight of birds
and the colors of earth and sky adjust on their palette –
aged green to warm amber,
flickering flame and cooling embers
reflections flashing in her eyes.

She cranes towards the dimming sun’s
sweet lingering gold, swallowing last rays of light
before clouds gather like seething giants
churning the skies into a leaden grey.

Autumn bears the winds and the wisdoms, there
in the flesh of cashmere wood and deciduous trees,
between rock and ancient rock, and layers of fallen leaves –
there she lies, with the secrets of the centuries.