Autumn Chill
Helios now struggles to rise in the sky
Peeping over the horizon for our eyes
Remembering ancestors who placed stones
Aligned as they watched the summer die
Cold days ahead deter a desire to rise
The chill being felt in these old bones
There’s a purpose to the chill in the air
Though it sends shivers down my spine
A value in this steady shortening of days
When nature can rest and carry out repair
Recovery that has evolved with a design
To plan emergence from dark damp days
The changing colours as leaves fall
Drifting to a carpet upon the forest floor
Blown then by winds to form a sea
Fading from decay as winter makes a call
The chill meanwhile opens another door
Nutrients recycled for nature’s necessity
The chill also an awakening for all
To survive the ice blast we store and share
A time for each of us to show goodwill
So listen out for your neighbour’s call
Your pantry may be full but theirs is bare
Show them love and kindness in the chill
Copyright: David Hopcroft January 2026
Park Bench Tales and other writings 