rose petals will wilt
and fall to the ground
one by one

autumn leaves will tumble
as they are blown across the grass
by the wind

pink petals fade
bright orange and yellow leaves
turn brown and crunch
under my shoes

petals melt and soak back into the soil
after a gentle rain
we rake and bag the leaves
and send them away to decompose elsewhere

stop and listen
to the lessons nature gives 
with her abundant spring flowers
and vibrant fall colors
that captivate us

we push away the thoughts 
of crumbling petals and brittle leaves
comparing their loss to death
as they return to the earth as ashes and dust

but nature is whispering
this isn’t the end
this is how life begins