Pensive in Slow Autumn’s Haunt
Pensive in slow autumn’s haunt,
The barren branch in naked sadness hung,
No flaring summer sun to vaunt,
Its searing sunshine, gay in gardens flung.
The sweeping rain collects in streams,
That carry leafy bodies to beyond,
Mottled red and orange gleams,
Like koi fish gliding underneath the pond.
Here, distracted, lost in thoughts,
Of yesteryear, of former glory known,
The pall of time our life distorts;
Once happy leaves are soon to darkness blown.
Looking on the span of trees,
That carry to the hazy rim of land,
Yellow crested in the breeze;
Autumn fulgency in compass grand.
Now the turning of the wheel,
The season tinted gold against the black,
To winter cold the world must steal,
Enduring summer fullness turned to lack.
Hopes within me smoulder too,
Underneath the cloak of spreading rains,
Leaden cloud banks meet my view;
The summer zenith now this sky disdains.
Still, with striking gratitude,
I am enamoured of this vibrant death,
Lost in autumn solitude,
With measured gladness written in my breath.
ADL
adamdaniel 