The Afternoon in Autumn

THE AFTERNOON IN AUTUMN

The afternoon in autumn

Is often still and deep

Even children’s laughter

With wisdom, seems to speak.

 

The long and lingering shadows,

Getting longer by the day,

Remind us that, like summer,

All things will pass away.

 

And in that somewhat sacred space,

Between the light and dark,

The warming glow inspires us

To be, to leave our mark.

 

A child, a tree, a manuscript,

Hard-fought battles won,

What will be remembered

When the day is done?

 

Someday I’ll be gone from here

No longer moved by fall

Joy and sorrow become one

Or you have not lived at all. 

 

                                                                        M. Irene Daniel, 2012