The shards of fall are strewn
about
Lining bronze banks along the creek
And winter gales brood
from the south
Against stripped
landscapes pallid cheek
The flame of
autumn’s afterglow
Beneath Time’s tender, tangent
kiss
Is mute; as stars
in ice and snow
Bedazzle stricken emptiness
Moment to moment is betrothed
It will deliver
in due time
A life; New Year is softly clothed
In ambiance of hope sublime
The aftermath of seasons bleed
Out to the point of
no return
But tears of joy and sorrow knead
Life-lessons we are bound to learn
So pop the top
and pour some cheer
Refurbish dim and dormant dream
For soon, too soon another year
Will drift to naught in Time’s swift stream
© Janet Martin