I watched the leaves falling
I prayed beneath a bonny bower of beeches
and saw
the leaves tumble
one after another
to the ground
and I thought of our love
and I thought of another time
and saying
that I love you
two teenage hands
held
together
beneath a bower
where sap rises
and the seeds planted
in soft folds of dewy spring
that give birth
to such tender fruit
bruised and loved
in the summer sun
and in the autumn mist
that calls us
closer
to our maker
while leaves fall one by one
beneath the bower
as we await winter
hands
still clasped
together
