changes



October
the season of change
a life rearranged

autumn
late afternoon sun
casting long shadows
over the earth
the damp soil
beneath your fingers
as you clear away
unwanted grass and weeds
the preparation
for next years' harvest

october days
it's the smoky smell
of roasting chestnuts
drifting on the calm breeze
the trickle of dead leaves
dancing in glee
a newfound burst of life
playing with gravity
before kissing the ground
lightly
softly softly
in contrast
to the thudding chestnuts
tumbling down
with a bang

it's learning to live alone
to love your solitude
to not feel lonely
to gaze upwards
to the blue sky
the mountains way up high
and to feel alive

it's the sticky dough
you knead with your fingers
praying your attempt
at your first sour dough loaf
will not be in vain
it's the flour
you manage to spread
all over the kitchen
and consequently
traipse all over the house
to accompany the mud
you've already brought in
from the garden

it's the phone call
you make to your mother
on her 50th birthday
the distance between you
nothing compared
to the connection
love and affection
you share

it's the clockwork
half hour chime
of the church bells
knowing odecla is always
a few seconds early
adding a counterpoint
to the cowbells
a constant
melody of life
in the valley
“ciao”
“bouna corsa"
barking dogs

it's the crunch of dry leaves
beneath your feet
as you bounce
along the narrow paths
through the woods
just hoping
one day
you may be so lucky
to come
eye to eye with
the famous bear
or maybe even a tiger

it's the gush of the streams
in summer -
dry as a bone
but now with torrents of rain
nothing remains the same

it's the slip away of the sun
slowly
tentatively
and then all at once
sliding behind the mountains
dipping the valley into dusk
and all too soon
the darkness of night
when you light your candles
read your books
drink your tea
and feel so free
to do as you please

it's learning to grow up
to be honest
with who you are
to follow your heart
to live the life you imagined
the thrall of the unfamiliar

it's trusting the timing
of your life
and trusting
in the kindness of strangers
in this place

it's in the gelato
the pumpkin pizza
tiramisù
coffee
you eat and drink
with new found friendships built
even across the language barrier

it's being so grateful
for the acceptance
and welcome 
you've experienced
these people
taking you
under their wing
it's being full of gratitude
for the life
you've found here

it's the sleepy
silence draped
over the town
like a warm cosy blanket
at 4pm
on a late sunday afternoon

it's craving the simple life
knowing very little is needed
to be happy
and content
wandering
and wondering
living close to the earth
knowing your own
and each others' worth
connections
possibilities
reaching out
castles in the air
towers of dreams
sky high
there's no map for this
the fortress
of your imagination
boundless
unique and pure
 
october
it's knowing
within the lingering light
dreams can take flight
 
it's knowing here
the warmth felt
deep in your bones
is real and whole
here is where you are meant to be
here you are home