Once again ...

Once again, you visit us,
Most Beautiful, Lady of Fall -
A wealth of harvest, food and flower,
Your basket brimmeth over.
In orange and red, behold,
How the woods rejoice your coming
And joy rolls out across fields of gold.

The vigor of Summer gives away
to morning mists, that reveal each day -
your gentle beauty. The breeze swirls
in the woods, telling tales of love and loss.
Of victories that have been won
and pain that has left many undone.
All this and more you bear.

In your gentle strength we rejoice,
To myriad songs you give voice.
Songs of victory from far and near,
Good over evil - we love to hear.
Even as we say our thanks, and gather around
accepting shades of dark and light;
that holds us to each other, sound.

You leave us at the mercy of Winter -
With visions of hope and joy forever.
A joy that wells from far within-
beyond the grasp of pain and suffering.
A knowledge that life is short,
and fragile, but long enough -
for each of us to love in splendor.