By Myself

An autumn wind undressed the trees

the flowers shyly shed their blooms

small birds and squirrels foraged in jittery steps

the noon sun turned the lake to glass

I sat on a bench and breathed in the silence of the space

with the scent of fallen leaves and retiring plants

What I would give to bank this serenity

to paint my stressed soul calm

to never have to look at the world through jaundiced eyes

to reclaim a quality of self, of worth

and when life intrudes, make a small withdrawal

from those precious deposits of peace, warmth and quietude