Free Mindful Fall ....

My FB friend, Arvind Khanna, of Delhi, posted this capture of a Champa flower in soft landing on the grass, in a park.

 Bringing to mind a lifetime of existing, first as a bud among many, on the tall branches that flowered ; then in a fragrant flouresence of white , gold, and pale green stems, so secure in company of others.

And then the fall.

And it occurred to me that there were different modes of fall.  

Read on :

Some fall,
palms facing up,
hankering for more,
enamoured as they are
of positions high up there,
end up
crushing their base,
or turning over
in the grass
to a broken life.

And some fall,
because it is time to fall,
after a lifetime
of giving
sustenance to
birds, bees, and Gods
and a fragrance to other's lives;
they fall,
palms downwards,
head bent in gratitude
only to land
lightly
on blades of grass
rushing to meet them.

And
some fingers
then lift them,
cup them in palms,
and offer them
to the One who made them.

Perhaps, they go to heaven ....

Seasons of Life

She says , (actually, it's William Cullen Bryant, but she found the quotation ) that this is "Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile......"


Signs of the Start of Fall in the Seattle area ! From this post by Sylvia .



(photo by Sylvia Kirkwood)

Brilliant skies,
dew-fresh mornings,
fresh
yellow green leaves,
enjoying their first day
in the Kindergaarten woods.

Sunny Days,
a strong crowded green,
hanging out with the crowd,
overlooking the bay,
swinging in the breeze,
flirting in the rain,
its the Teenage Woods.



And then Life
starts
its health lessons,
some tough browning,
pale yellowing,
some angry reds
oranges,
clouds dark with
intention
of the imminent season,
its the Middle-aged woods.

It
happens to all
in nature,
a shedding
of the brown and gold,
shivering in Winter,
tough wood
seasoned by snow
and
conserving
of energy within.

The Senior Woods,
a time
to draw around you
a cloud cardigan,
a nip in the air,
a sudden ray of sunlight
and a great cup
of hot tea
with a friend....

Fog on the mind

In reaction to a wonderful photopost by Sylvia .

(photos by Sylvia Kirkwood)

Late winter
of life,
Cloudy brain
plaques
fogging the brain;
I stand tall
and green
in the mist
In support
of those with
lost leaves....



Sometimes
I am alone,
sometimes
struggling with
others
on a woody slope
alzeimerishly....

A gust of wind
lifts the mist,
warm yellows
and browns of fall
decorating
the heights
of my mind....

And
the fence and lawn
resplendent
in shining dew,
appears familiar....

Memories flood back;
I am not alone..