WITHIN THE DARKENING WOODS

I sit among decorations of light and dark, dancing

And changing as sunlight peeks around, hides behind

Gray clouds, streaming through branches swayed by wind,

Varying the patterns on the hard dirt ground.

There is life all around, birds singing, wind

Blowing, trees swaying, shadows changing,

But, not too far away, dark woods standing,

Tree shadows blocking out the sun.

Among all this light, activity, and life,

I find myself reminded of boyhood memories,

When I lived my adventures, exploring woods

In sunlight, with the wind, surrounded by birdsong.

Aware even in that life, of dark woods full of peace,

And coolness, and silence. Silent as a tomb,

They like to say, and that is how I thought

Of the darkening woods somewhere else back then.

Now, so many years later, I am again aware,

Of the dark shadows underneath the trees,

Which stand over my shoulder reminding me,

It's almost time to walk into their cool world.