THE AUTUMN SONG
Whirling wind plays the flutes,
the autumn song gracefully unmutes.
Rustling leaves sing melodious songs,
garden birds join merrily along.
Mesmerizing sunsets turn crimson,
the maple trees tune in their violin.
Dancing moonlight in the streams that flow,
guitars strumming soft and slow.
Shrivelling valley’s desperate hum,
the drizzle rhythmically beats the drum.
Fall—a harmonious prelude to beautiful spring,
music of hope is all that autumn’s song brings.
*
A DEAD LEAF OR A LIFE SUPPORT
On a crisp fall day in Central Park, New York,
Naina observed a withered leaf on a bare rock.
With melodious nightingales it rustled a song,
dancing with the whirling wind along.
For the world it was absolutely dead,
yet the leaf revealed colours of life instead.
Gracefully waiting for its final decree,
a bird came and took it to the maple tree.
Becoming part of the bird’s nest,
the leaf found a purpose—
securing tiny nestlings in a home so fair.
Like old Mrs. Martha, guardian of the orphanage,
who cares for Naina and many children of her age.
Dr Noor Afshan is a Kashmiri doctor living in Saudi Arabia, a homemaker by choice, and a writer of poetry and short prose. Her work engages themes of parenting, psychology, politics, and spirituality, and has appeared in anthologies and online literary platforms.