I looked for you in Autumn

The morning was a layered gray

With higher clouds that held

And hovered solemnly in place

And lower 

More impatient clouds that sailed

And raced 

Toward furthest edges of the day 

While sun as bold as all July

Broke through at every interval he could 

And kept me lingering there

With hope 

He would prevail

And I withstood the fits of rain

And bite of cold on summer skin

To feel the sun burst forth  

And briefly warm the earth 

And me again

I looked for you in every element

And in a conscious way 

I said a poem aloud

To tree and sky 

To lazy and ambitious cloud

To you if you would hear

And as I spoke the end

A sudden spirit ruffled through the grasses

At my feet

And breath of wind swept past

To spin the air 

With gold acknowledgement

From listening trees

And ray of sun broke through 

To gild and spotlight the embrace

Of showering leaves

And you were there

And I was filled with joy at finding you

In every leaf that lilted gently down

And one that was especially you

I caught to

Treasure 

And I saved the gold to press

Within the page

Within the heart

Within the chest

Sara Mathews     September 2015