Amidst autumn’s burnished copper leaf mirrored across the pond, lighted houses are pressed into dusk against chilly November

winds. In this moment at day’s end, let me tell you of my gratefulness. Let me say thank you. The leaves I raked today are resting on the

shoulder of the road—bagged and still warm with life. Tonight the moon will cascade down the green, casting dreams upon the pond and

over the shedding branches. I’m so happy for another day together. Hand-in-hand, we enter winter with the promise of beauty and

bleakness mingled. And deep in the dark, we, still warm with life, will pull the covers up to sleep and await the dawn.

©️Bonnie Saul Wilks