Transition

autumn

thick juicy green

fades to whispering wildfire

and falls

the sun shifts

spilling cold diamonds 

across slow water

a scrawny yellow bird

watches the yard

from atop the feeder

I love autumn. While many people see it as an ending, I see it as the first step toward a new beginning. The plants and animals prepare themselves for a season of dormancy. They shed the unnecessary and go deep, protecting themselves from the inevitable challenges of winter and reading themselves to welcome a new season of birth and growth. I find inspiration and courage in autumn. I, too, can gather what I need, let go of what I don't, and look forward with determination.