A Time To Grieve Poem by Barry Middleton

the autumn is a time to grieve
the year is well past middle age
and I can see my resting place
the final sunset waits for me

the colors of the leaves recall
the childhood valley of my home
the times and memories left behind
that I will never see again

the fall was filled with earthen tones
the creek with gems of polished stones
in brown and burgundy and orange
the maple reds and ghostly quartz

I often roamed into those hills
my favorite time was after rain
for then the world was carpeted
to not betray my secret path

if I could go there even now
I could escape but for a while
as I did then to hide from pain
in valley woodlands after rain