The asters are blooming

how I love them

but they signal that time marches on

soon it will be getting darker much sooner and it will be much colder

and the light in the garden will change

But it's all right

I'm ready, in fact, I wait for it.

Ever since the fox came to me

then died near me

Life in the garden has taken on a different tone

The robins are less frequent now...they sing no more

the goldfinches are looking less yellow

I think of my fox and how he chose to die here

His passing... has affected me in the garden

I can see his bones under the deck

a blanket of sadness I have to admit has colored everything

even when I thought it didn't

A reminder how connected we all are

and how death is part of the living experience

now autumn

The season has come to my garden to die

I will watch over it like I did the poor old fox

I will honor its passing

I will go inside

inside