River Walk

The black road stretches on
To either side of me,
And I could follow it
For an eternity
Down the path I already know.

But above me there is
An explosion of color
Directly overhead
Giving life to the
Ashen gray beyond.
Red and orange and gold
Fall like embers
To meet the road

And all I have to do is
Take a few careful steps
Between the stretching tree trunks
Down the leaf-strewn banks
To meet the rushing river
Surging toward a new life.