Homework May: Seasons of Life

[Catherine Lee]

Seasons of Life

They say life that knows not love is like a year without the spring,
and that season yielded plenty long ago
when oblivious and carefree we would fritter time away
like bright butterflies alighting to and fro.

Then the summers taught us lessons, gaining knowledge of the world,
with its complex web of people and events -
tears and laughter, heartache, understanding, complicated rules,
situations that we couldn’t circumvent.

Now the leaves of time are changing and I feel each ache and pain
as I wonder at the circle’s swift advance
which in spring seemed full of promise, almost infinite, and free,
with such endless possibility and chance.

Do I really now reside within an autumn’s golden glow
with a winter spectre lying there in wait?
If I ponder my mistakes and all I’ve learned along the way,
will it make me smile, or put me in a state?

No! The gentle rain is dancing on my window, where a bird
perches lightly, spreading seeds of joy with song.
So I shake myself from reverie, chastise my idle mind,
take some time to breathe, be thankful I belong.

There’s no point lamenting long-lost spring, nor summer’s pretty dance,
nor to wonder when our winter will arrive!
So I greet another day of blessings, throwing curtains wide,
filled with gratitude to simply be alive.

© Catherine Lee