Autumn Gatherings: A Story

multitudes of forever 

they gathered at the portal. 

they had no choice.  to find 

shelter was a prayer they had 

been taught from birth.  

despite all the wind, rain, and 

burning sun that their glorious 

family tree had nurtured and 

endured, there had been no 

rehearsal for the great falling; 

and the falling itself was sudden 

and by design. 

now at the door to the family tree, 

through darkness they gathered 

their crumbling vessels of life 

and poured out their sorrows 

as ransom for shelter. 

but wind has its own agenda. 

it carries with it the dreams of 

every living and dying creature 

in its stream, and its agenda is to 

keep moving in every direction; 

to suffer the fears and dreams 

of every life 

and 

passing season. 

Poem © 2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo© 2011 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo taken by R. Baker at Powder Mill Park, Rochester, NY October 2011.