letting go - KAREN HESSLER

This is a poetic story of beauty and color – a tale of holding on and letting go.





come with me, you say
pulling me along
come and see, and my 
heart follows willingly
as my lips sing
the sweetest song

what is this place, I ask
as we wander through
an unknown land
filled with giant trees
and flaming leaves
bigger than my hand

this is autumn, you say
with a smile, as we climb
orange branches wrapped
with golden foliage
breathing sun-ripened scents
of pumpkins and spice

let us gather the colors
let us bring them back home
let us brighten our world
let us lighten our load

let us always remember
let us never forget
but when I look at you
I see your face is wet

then we cross the river
of time, but alas 
the colors turn crunchy
and fade like winter grass
why do seasons change so fast
autumn falls, it cannot last

something is loosening the laces of all that was tightly held white knuckles clinched fist rigid wrist something's emerging from the deep could it be courage untying the knots? fingers uncurl hope begins to swirl something sweeps through bones and veins washing away aches and pains with outstretched arm grace takes my hand things tightly held fall to the land covered by dirt nourished by soil no need to work no strife no sweat no toil troubles now are planted in the ground of grace where goodness knows how beauty grows alive in love's embrace