This year as the autumn leaves were falling, I said goodbye too soon to two great friends.

To Sylvia and Donna:

AUTUMN

The leaves are falling, falling as from far

As though above were withering farthest gardens;

They fall with a denying attitude.

And night by night, down into solitude,

The heavy earth falls from every star.

We are all falling. This hand is falling too—

All have this falling-sickness none withstands.

And yet there’s one whose gently-holding hands

This universal falling can’t fall through.

Rainer Maria Rilke “Autumn”