An Autumnal Offering

By audrey voon

I am humbled by your beauty,
the way your colors slowly
saturate the landscape
like a sunrise bleeding
a blanket of gold across the earth.
You answer to no one–
just the water and the sky,
the sleepy sun
and Mother Moon.
You beckon, “Come, slow down
awhile with me.
Harvest the sweet fruit of
your life’s work,
and then rest awhile
here
in my auburns and golds
in my crisp morning breezes.
Learn how it feels to stay–
to witness
to allow
something to the flavor of joy
something to the sound of a sigh
a smile
a moment
of awe.
Come, stay awhile with me.
You will know when it’s time.”