The Orange Room

I walk into a room,

A room with an orange hue.

It feels familiar,

Though it's not a place I visit often.

Maybe once a year.

Yet it's my favorite room

On this journey called life,

Because it reminds me

Of everything good in the world.

I walk through the room,

And I smell warm apple cider

And freshly made donuts

From the apple orchard

My best friend and I visited in high school.

I smell my grandmother's

Homemade chocolate chip cookies,

The ones she made every year

Around Halloween.

I see art on the walls,

Painted in the colors of changing leaves.

I feel happiness in the air,

Because this orange room

Represents change,

Life,

And the natural balance of it all.

It reminds us

That all good things must begin,

And eventually come to an end.

I feel the cool wind in the air,

And see my favorite sweater

Resting on a chair.

Charlie Brown is on the TV,

And suddenly,

I'm three years old again.

Outside the window lies the Midwest,

Dressed in its finest shades of gold.

The crisp autumn breeze feels like an old friend,

Bringing memories of the stories I've told.

I've watched the seasons come and go,

And wandered through places unknown.

But no matter where life takes me,

There's nothing quite like home.

The honeybees are near,

And we're singing, oh so sweet,

Because somehow, we both know

We cannot stay in this room forever.

Eventually,

We must let it go.

October is like a lover

Who comes and goes,

Who gives you everything

And takes nothing,

Yet leaves you feeling everything.

A bittersweet child

Between winter's cold soul

And summer's burning heat.

Oh, October,

How I will miss you

When you leave.