Autumn Leaf
Published in
Nov 1, 2021
Maple autumn leaf —
deep vermilion burning
in tandem with
thousands of bright kin.
New Hampshire barn —
eager boy dismembers
branches on trees
that wait to sleep.
Eyes wide, neck stretched —
he wonders what’s inside
a floating crimson
October leaf falling
gently to
the ground.
A settlement, perhaps —
a city of of mite-sized
people who paint
the skies red in honor
of their death.
They work with speed —
with all they have
until their canvas dries
and shatters like glass.
November mischief
buries layers of extinction
beneath frozen
grass and snow.
Come Winter —
thief of the north
to rake light
and rob the land of
color and youth.
