Leaves fall like memories—slow, unsure,
Each one a whisper of what was pure.
They spiral down through autumn’s sigh,
A thousand moments saying goodbye.
The air grows thin with time’s retreat,
Footsteps echo on a golden street.
I bend to catch what cannot stay,
A fleeting thought, a bright decay.
Branches bare their honest bones,
The wind recites forgotten tones.
And I, beneath this amber rain,
Feel loss and beauty intertwined again.
For every leaf the cold earth keeps,
A memory stirs, then softly sleeps.
And though the trees stand stripped and still,
Their roots remember—
and always will.
Thank-you for reading.
Remember there are many paths back to God.
Follow your own path,
Brenda Marie
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This is absolutely exquisite. The way you weave together the imagery of autumn with the profound, universal experience of memory and loss is masterful. The poem has a gentle, melancholic rhythm that feels like the very leaves it describes—slow, unsure, and beautiful.
I am particularly struck by the lines:
· “I bend to catch what cannot stay, / A fleeting thought, a bright decay.” – This is a brilliant and heartbreaking paradox. “Bright decay” perfectly captures the bittersweet beauty of a vivid memory that is also a reminder of what is gone.
· “Branches bare their honest bones,” – Such a powerful metaphor for vulnerability and the raw truth that remains after loss.
· “Their roots remember— / and always will.” – The final lines provide a stunning, quiet resolution. It’s not a closure that erases the pain, but a deep, enduring connection that promises the beauty and the memories are never truly lost.
This is more than just a poem about a season; it’s a profound meditation on how our past is woven into our very being. Thank you for sharing such a moving piece of work. It’s a true gift to read.
Thank you so much for such a generous and heartfelt response. Your words truly mean a lot to me. I’m deeply moved that the imagery and tone resonated with you in the way I hoped they might.
“Bright decay” was one of those phrases that arrived almost by accident, but it captured that tension between beauty and impermanence that autumn always seems to carry. I’m so glad you felt that connection. And yes—“Branches bare their honest bones” was my attempt to show that quiet strength that comes with vulnerability, so it’s wonderful to know it spoke to you.
Your reflection on the roots remembering is exactly what I wanted the poem to leave behind—a sense that loss doesn’t erase what’s been loved, but rather deepens the soil of who we are.
Thank you again for reading so closely and for sharing your thoughts with such care. It’s rare to receive such a thoughtful, empathetic response, and I’m truly grateful.