Time of Descent

Darkened clouds cover the valley,
welcome rains arriving
with the turn of season.
Gently comes the fall
as vibrant green fades
into russet and gold,
a quiet time, not a death,
a time of shedding leaves
and descent into root.
Even the old growth must yield,
allowing life force the way back
to the benevolent earth
where wisdom lies deep and still.
When we let go we fall
into arms of belonging,
embracing root and darkness
and the germs of new life
that await our resting souls.

 

 

 


photograph courtesy of Thomas Kast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading of “Time of Descent” with music by Jay Ungar


 


15 Responses to “Time of Descent”

  1. David Barnes says:

    wonderful Don. a poem rich with the beauty and wisdom of Life, drawing all that will come into the arms of belonging. one lets go easily and naturally

  2. Veronica Lim says:

    What a beautiful fall poem, Don. Thank you.

  3. Pat Fitzsimmons says:

    Thank you don, I love the spirit of this poem.

  4. Mark Mahoney says:

    Don, but . . .

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2cgcx-GJTQ&ab_channel=Jainkeff
    . . .

    Is it the age of the poet, the age of the listener, what makes both poems so appealing in the quandary over our inevitable demise?

  5. Cher Pizzi says:

    Meaningful words that capture the transition of seasons at all levels of life. Thanks so much! Exquisite.

  6. Marco Menato says:

    Your poem is a parachute to ease my descent. Thank you! I enjoyed hearing you recite it in your cadence.

  7. Tom Figel says:

    Don, I like Marco M’s description of the poem as a parachute. It’s true. You have put together a calming reflection on the inevitable. It’s probably not inevitable for you, though, you fireball.

  8. David Banner says:

    Ah…letting go into the arms of belonging…what a delicious image!

  9. When I first saw the title of your poem, Don, I immediately thought of descent into full angelic incarnation into the earth of physicality. Then as I read it, the line “Even the old growth must yield” and I saw how the old man I was is no longer, having yielded to the emergence of the angelic life force of love with all the newness love brings into expression. Your poetic spirit moves at many levels as I listened to you speak your poem. How beautiful. Thank you deeply.

  10. Sandy Jensen says:

    I like it! There’s nothing that gets in the way of the downward movement of the poem with a soft landing. Just a perfect evocation of the season.

  11. Christina Pivarnik says:

    Gorgeous. Wild. Untamed.
    Raw. Healing. Earth’s euphony.
    God’s magic revealed.

    A haiku in response to your exquisite words.

  12. Geoff Tisch says:

    Winter past has been good to me.
    Here I am in spring, a standing tree,
    sending out bud, blossom, and leaf.
    Once again!

    Geoff, Standing Tree

  13. Edward Haimes says:

    Your poetry is finding deep resonance in my soul. My experience is of a guided meditation, a deep shamanic journey. Thank you.

  14. Maria Frid says:

    I hear so many speaking of darkness, turmoil and iniquity in this cycle of time, I am with you in proclaiming, ‘a quiet time, not a death’ a time to let go of old concepts and assumptions. Newness is brewing……….thank you for this most beautiful alluring poem.

  15. I really loved this poem. I was born in the Fall & married in the Fall & you captured my feelings for the Fall

Leave a Reply