The Arrival

Arrived autumn
 With a visit uninvited
 And by chill slowly growing
 With a lesson fully dreadful
 And by message all displeasing

 Then arrived autumn
 With a growing understanding
 And by vision slowly clearing
 With belief calmly growing
 And by readiness to embrace

 Then arrived autumn
 With unpleasant companion
 And with frost overwhelming
 With a lack of will to stand still
 And with a movement backwards drawing

 Then arrived Autumn
 Not the light of spring to follow
 Nor a summer nor a winter
 With autumn tints the forest glowing
 And with leaves newly falling

 Then arrived
 I to visit uninvited
 With a message to me ageless
 Carrying the understanding
 Year of autumns one to embrace