the late afternoon of life.
the Sun hurtling toward the horizon
shedding its yellow brilliance
for a deep orange shawl that
turns my ageing landscape
into a warm diffuse gold.

The path to my distant demise
is shorter and brighter now
as the long winding road
behind me fills the breeze
with a brisk evening chill.

as I pause to look back
at the shadow of my past,
its long dark cast stretches
over the valleys and peaks
that once blocked my path

greying shadows behind me.
golden red brilliance ahead.
the journey near completion.
soon, no more path to tread.*

~~~