Courage

        whispered the autumn leaf

    He,

       born of spring’s budding hope

       commissioned for summer’s verdancy

       yet most glorious in decline

Courage

         urged the autumn leaf

  As he,

        in trust and gratitude

        released his hold once and for all

        surrendered into the wind

               and fell

From the Orthodox Church Funeral Service: 
“The event of death is probably the greatest spiritual, intellectual, and emotional challenge which a person must face in his earthly existence. But the Christian should be prepared to face all the events of life with unflinching courage. These inescapably include the sorrowful reality of death.”