"With a bitter weather forecast over the month ahead, my mind immediately went to the seasons of rebirth, warmth and growth, maturation and and preparation for change to follow, before returning back to Nature's cycle of winter, spring, summer and autumn once more. I was once told that within each year's four season's there is one that is reserved for us in which we enter a body challenge and change, and another from which we emerge more healthy and wholesome, having endured the passage of the Nature's yearly cycle.This year I entered mine during the season of winter; to be precise, on Boxing day when I was received into hospital for a month's stay, seriously ill, and where a third cancer was found in my body that required immediate and aggressive chemo treatment, were I to see another season through. After a few scares, ups and downs and repeated setbacks, my new bout of chemo treatment has started and if hopefully successful, it will partially stabalise the new cancer (which is also terminal and will return like my first treated cancer). I should begin to feel better and start coming out of the woods by the autumn season. My son will be visiting from Australia then, and me and Sheila plan to take a week's holiday down in Cornwall, at the start of next autumn, where I haven't been for over twenty years. With next autumn being my next mental goal post to reach, I composed this seasonal poem to spur me on my way and sustain my spirit in the blanket of positivism:
'Autumn's Face' by William Forde
'No spring nor summer has such grace as I have seen in autumn's face.
Where beauty blends as foxes wild, watch walkers stroll down woodland aisle.
Where leaves lay scattered on the ground, and earth feels soft and thoughts abound
upon our love, and passions spent, our fulfilled dreams and wild content.
Oh, magic autumn be not shy, show resplendent face to all on high
let thy russet leaves fall like gold, burnished brown yellows that unfold
and lays God's love upon the ground for all the world to see;
to marvel in His majesty.'
Copyright William Forde: February 3rd, 2017.