Ode to Autumn and Aging

Earth tilts south to shorter days and longer nights,

Adapt, migrate, hibernate, forewarn as weather dulls;

Nature’s harvests erupt, pumpkins, corn, mushrooms,

Chlorophyll becomes dormant, leaves stop making food;

Trees adorn with multi-colored coats of golds and bronzes,

Dropping seeds, building humus to nourish spring seedlings.

And so, humans reach their autumnal equinox, rising up,

Advanced maturation, trickling saps of growth denied,

Organic normal aging of cells with shortened telomeres;

Now being observant as multi-functional canopies of wisdom

To society at large with fruits of capabilities and resilience.

Soon enough winter closes the process of senescence,

Life’s survival overcomes the storms with gifts of giving …

Thus, cultivate well our time, experiences and love for each other.

Annemarie Berukoff