Winding down

As summer winds down 

And we drift toward September, 

The morning sun slides slowly toward the south, 

Behind the trees, 

No longer reddened by the smoke of forest fires, 

But still gilding a host of clouds 

And the distant shores. 

We, too, are gliding slowly southward, 

No longer fired by the energies of youth, 

But hopefully still brightening; 

Bringing color to the lives of those around us…