After the Autumn Equinox

Here I sit, days after balance turned,
Gazing out as trees release
Their gentle grip on summer’s hand.
Golds and russets shimmer,
Falling with grace
Into a chill that lingers on still air.

A single leaf wanders downward,
Kissing the earth in silence.
The sun dapples through
To freshly fallen carpets,
Crisp with the song of change.

I feel the grief inside me
Why does letting go ache so?
It is the making of space for the new,
Yet my heart mourns the falling.
For soon the harsh wind will come,
And branches, stripped bare,
Will face the dark again.

Where will the owls go?
The pine martens hide,
And the birds already turn southward,
Save for the robin
His red breast glowing,
A spark in hawthorn, willow, blackthorn.
The pines stand steadfast,
Evergreen guardians of winter’s hush.

Still, magnificence reigns
A tapestry of reds, golds, and flame.
Death walks close,
Winter approaches,
But let us raise our cups to autumn!
With warm mead in hand,
We honour her beauty
And prepare to journey inward.