Decomposing

I have a statue of Shiva sitting on the highest shelf in my dining room. My sister brought this statue back from India about 30 years ago and I love it. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger. Shiva is revered for maintaining the cycle of existence, including its beginning and its end. Fall brings Shiva to mind as everything around is begins to die back, making room for winter--yes--but also for what will come in winter's wake, which is the emergence of new life. One big infinite circle, upon which decomposition is not only inevitable, but necessary for growth.  This week's writing prompt is to write a definition for decomposition. Write it as literally or as metaphorically as you wish, but do write it in the voice of a dictionary, in the style of a definition. Make it a good paragraph long…