Autumn of Life

Colors drip from trees flying Like exotic birds, nesting finally In puddles of crispy clutter. How ironic they reach their peak Of beauty and appeal Only as they die, ready to decay. Yet, while we praise simple leaves We are quick to ignore people Who, in the Autumn of life, shine. For only when we see freedom From our tree of expectations Can our true colors come forth, And the brilliance of experience, The reds of hearts overflowing, The gold of valuable lifetime friends, The fiery orange of mistakes made That brought both pain and wisdom, The yellow of warm family times, All add to our individual allure. Yet, unlike foliage, we become less, Colors overlooked, flight restricted. Cherish Autumn, lest the chill of winter, Like a blanket of anemic snow, Speed the decay of life.