Autumn leaves

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