MURMURING BARK

Wet bark aglow with gilded leaves
Chorus of rustles as they dance
A death so beautiful, I grieve
A heaving waltz, terminal trance

Shedding memories, proud celebration
Not breaking, simply breaking free
Homecoming, pre-reincarnation
We watch the world turn through these trees

Suffering, pain, all part of bliss,
Enchanting beauty of the living
My heart at liberty chose this
Not bitter loss, but sweet forgiving

Accept all things I cannot change
You keep my faith, discard my scars
All of life’s ends, no longer strange
My nights are low on nightmares now

first published in ‘Fool’s Gold’ (volume 2, 2020)