WHEN AUTUMN COMES

Swiftly the Autumn winds have seared our trees

With scorchless fires of scarlet, gold and rust.

From afar, the hills seem consumed in colored flame.

Each hour the colors leap and soar across the hills

As the winds sweep through to spread the torch,

Set maples stirring red, aspens following with gold.

The scarlet sumac accentuates all with its flaming red

Against the background screen of evergreen firs

With their promise of eternal Spring.

So much like life it seems, at least to me,

As those fine old faces from all about with these colors

And richly sculptured lives that adorn each lovely face,

Their voices, like the Autumn wind whisper tales

Of a life richly lived in joy but also with fear

Shining through the stress of everyday living

Are signs that reveal an inward glow of youth eternal.

When these two scenes flow across my mind,

I sometimes muse aloud, to myself of course,

Which of these scenes is Mother Nature’s masterpiece?