Dying Time

Dying Time

In a life well spent

age should be worn like Autumn

reds for shades of love shared

oranges for degrees of delight

yellows for grades of gratitude

both given and received

losses bared in browns

and successes shining in golds

In a life well spent

wrinkles should be worn like colors

earned with the work of thoughtfully dropped acorns

and although the cycle is almost complete

there would be no dread of Winter

Those with barren seasons

fear the Fall

they clutch every faded leaf and rotting seed

hoping to bring back Spring

and stall time in eternal Summer

Those with barren seasons

bark at the unblameable wind

and lash out at the optimistic 

over branches they themselves have not gone out on

until even loved ones want to swing the axe

Tressa Lee Breen

October 22, 2013