Autumn's Gloaming

Corn-rows, in regimental symmetry

Gleam; an auburn tide in autumn’s gloaming

On twilight’s crest the scarlet rivalry

Of maple and sumac spike daylight's folding 

The full moon embellishes night’s collar

Dull meadow’s surge; silver, a still-life ocean

Echoes, reminiscent of a summer

Converge; filling dusk shadows with emotion

Time reaches out with gossamer embrace

To pluck another season from earth’s face

***

Is there an antidote for summer-sorrow?

Is grief the flip-side of love’s lithesome joy?

Is there a balm of laughter in tomorrow

To soothe the anguish life seems to employ?

In Time’s quadrille we are reckless dancers

Oft squandering a song we should revere

Distracted as we search for temporal answers

To questions that will never disappear

How subtle the descent of heaven’s scrim

How silently the bloom falls from the limb

***

The poet weeps into the autumn dark

The tenure of thought curves against lament

Until a poem lights a valiant spark

And re-ignites the passion that was spent

Each season is part of Love’s Masterpiece

The moment-threads of life fall into place

In spite of history’s soundless increase

And Time’s insistent kisses on our face

On summer’s tomb the crimson poppy blows

Somewhere a Groom reserves love’s sweetest rose

© Janet Martin