eternal recurrence

"eternal recurrence"
Amongst the last falling autumn leaves
within the fading hues 
of amber and orange and ruby,
   the stillness of memory lingers 
   upon the silent sways 
   of a fall breeze,

Patiently waiting 
for the touch of thought 
as the cool air glides 
through the trees,

A thin barrier exists 
between the present 
and echoing memory,
   rippling 
   upon the touch of a 
   connecting mind
slowly sending out 
quick glimpses of past happiness 
and deep sorrow,
   images of passing moments 
   of when things were different,
when choices still felt full 
of promise,

Now among the dying remnants 
of autumn 
that is soon to change 
to the palettes 
of grays and whites of winter, 
the weight of life's many moments 
wraps around us 
like a thick wool blanket 
helping us hold in 
the delicate warmth we have,

   For the winter cold holds 
   no quarter 
for our sentiment 
   and at any given moment 
   will remind us 
   of the present 
and yet still 
   even with all our mistakes 
   and many regrets,
we hold steady 
in the warmth of our memories, 

Even if they do bring pain, 
and sorrow, and melancholy,
Even if the world feels like 
it has frozen your whole life 
inside an unbearable moment,
   we hold steady,
waiting for the winds of spring 
to return 
imagining the first flowers 
beginning to bloom,
we pull in the next breath and
we hold steady.

-Armando Torres