1
I love it when those autumn leaves
Turn yellow and brown and gold
As hibernating English trees
Say they grow cold

They slow their pulsing sap and fling
Their leaves upon the air and then
All fall asleep ‘til early spring
Shines like a torch again

I love to hear those chestnuts fall
Polished to the ground
Where carefree little children call
– Look what I’ve found!

There adolescents hug and kiss
Who swear to be sweet-hearts for-ever
Although when old some reminisce
That time could not keep them together

While just ahead proud parents walk
And copy what their infants do
They kick dry piles of leaves and talk
Of all that they’ve been through

Now widows pass with leads in hand
Who’ve seen it all before
Good dog! Get down! Good boy! And
They ask nothing more

But I’ve asked God a thousand things
And faced that fourfold void within
When I lost faith in Queens and Kings
Who insincerely wave and grin

And I’ve compared them with a sigh
To one who wore a thorny crown
While their tame politicians lie
And let their blind electors down

But still I love my native land
And nature’s beauty everywhere
Where I can walk sit down or stand
And stare in holy wonder or despair

And when those lovely English trees
Turn yellow and brown and gold
I marvel at God’s mysteries
That can’t be bought or sold

Come glorious autumn! Show me how
To let my leaves fall to the ground
And tell my friends I’m leaving now
With no regrets or awful sound

Which caused alarm to passers-by
Crying Lord Why? When on my rounds
Disturbing them with hue and cry
On my dark horse chased by cruel hounds

But Christ will show His Face again
To all my concerned neighbours here
When every worried mind and brain
Will know they had nothing to fear

Yet still those dying yellow leaves
Remind me of the years ahead
When I shall wear those saffron robes
And share my joy and love instead!

____________________________

Alan Collins,
TWO WAYS
The Carrions
TOTNES
TQ9 5TW.