Copyright 2012 — James Bo Insogna

A reminder

by Patrick Tomassi

I crushed a dry leaf
in my hand — the sound was mortifying:
a reminder.

And soon the sky will be dark,
and rain will come,
and leaves will soak,
turning from red to brown —
brown to black.

Soon trees will be bare,
and leaves will huddle,
forming small hills in drains and gutters,
to be sloshed by tires and hurried shoes.

Soon faces will be dark
under hoods and hats
and the world will fade to monochrome:
black trees against the white sky;
gray faces concealing dim eyes.

Soon the tree will stand naked —
arms outstretched in rain-soaked
defiance of the hollow tomb.

Soon darkness —
soon morning.
Soon fire in eyes.
Soon the leaf in my hand will be
mud on the feet of a woman running;
‘I have seen him.’

Patrick Tomassi, October 27th, 2013