The autumn leaves can dazzle us with their magnificent colors:
deep red, purple, yellow, gold, bronze,
in countless variations and combinations.
Then, shortly after having shown their unspeakable beauty,
they fall to the ground and die.
The barren trees remind us that winter is near.
Likewise, the autumn of life has potential to be very colourful:
wisdom, humor, care, patience, and joy
may bloom splendidly just before we fall to the ground and die.
As we look at the barren trees and remember our dead,
let us be grateful for the beauty we saw them
and wait hopefully for a new spring.
~ Henry Nouwen
I am playing catchup. I am sorry I am rarely visiting – we are in the thick of life these days. 🙂
You are playing catchup. Well, I have better catch up with my responses. Eeek….
We’re getting the fall colours over here on my side of Canada too 🙂
In your side of Canada, you have the best foliage and I want to see that soon while I am mobile.
Hope.
We hoped that he will stay long enough until Christmas but he died today. This post is dedicated for my Tito.
I am so sorry for your loss. May he rest in eternal peace.
It is breathtakingly beautiful. The colors are so stunning ! I want to be here ! 🙂 Poem adds to the magic. 🙂
Come and visit North America, Soul. It’s beautiful. Thank you.
It is my dream to meet you all. 🙂
A very moving and wise poem, and the image of the trees in full autumnal splendor is stunning. Thanks for sharing:-) H xxx
Henri Nouwen was a wise man. I turned his meditation into poetic style. Thank you.
Beautiful words and image! xx
Thank you, Joanne.
Truly beautiful. Love the poem!
Hi Amy, thank you. It’s actually a meditation that I re-invented by breaking the lines. Perpetua.
Beautiful!
Thank you, Estelea. Pardon me in being tardy in responding.