Merry Autumn by Paul Lawrence Dunbar

 It’s all a farce,—these tales they tell 
        About the breezes sighing, 
    And moans astir o’er field and dell, 
        Because the year is dying.

    Such principles are most absurd,— 
        I care not who first taught ’em; 
    There’s nothing known to beast or bird 
        To make a solemn autumn.

    In solemn times, when grief holds sway 
        With countenance distressing, 
    You’ll note the more of black and gray 
        Will then be used in dressing.

    Now purple tints are all around; 
        The sky is blue and mellow; 
    And e’en the grasses turn the ground 
        From modest green to yellow.

    The seed burs all with laughter crack 
        On featherweed and jimson; 
    And leaves that should be dressed in black 
        Are all decked out in crimson.

    A butterfly goes winging by; 
        A singing bird comes after; 
    And Nature, all from earth to sky, 
        Is bubbling o’er with laughter.

    The ripples wimple on the rills, 
        Like sparkling little lasses; 
    The sunlight runs along the hills, 
        And laughs among the grasses.

    The earth is just so full of fun 
        It really can’t contain it; 
    And streams of mirth so freely run 
        The heavens seem to rain it.

    Don’t talk to me of solemn days 
        In autumn’s time of splendor, 
    Because the sun shows fewer rays, 
        And these grow slant and slender.

    Why, it’s the climax of the year,— 
        The highest time of living!— 
    Till naturally its bursting cheer 
        Just melts into thanksgiving.

I’ve met a number of inspiring people who in the autumn of their years felt not diminished but in the highest time of living. They achieved this not by physical prowess, but through a steadily blossoming capacity for radiant expression.

Radiance is the afterglow of earnest service. You cannot enjoy the highest time of living if the preceding years revolve around the turntable of self-concern for the simple reason that you won’t be prepared.

Fulfillment is not the by-product of personal achievement and I think most would concur that personal achievement is necessary, but not sufficient to a satisfying life. True fulfillment is the natural outcome when you dedicate your life to assisting others to their fulfillment.