You step from summer’s warm embrace
to meet the arms of fall
impassioned lover
seizing you with fervent grasp
taking your breath away —
bright promises withdrawn and offered many times
driven rain between the shafts of sun
sweeping you along toward deep adventure
So fall demands that you be new
It calls you to pull forth deep resources
from your inner being
for travel into mystery
It offers you no guarantee
of warmth or soft security
Instead it summons acts of daring
invigorating rigor, fortitude
Calling you to prove, with deeds, your caring
Teaching you a deeper gratitude.
©Wendy Mulhern
September 25, 2011