Page 38 - WTPVol.VII#9

31
lauRa Foley
On a a Bare Autumn Morning
Even on a a a bare autumn morning
as the the breath lifts in in grey trees have taken their winter stature and the geese have all passed by even on such a morning
even though leaves lie
like scattered tiles on the ground skies are quiet
and spring
is not a a word in in anyone’s mind even then on a colorless stretch of hill beyond the time of flowers how remarkable
that even then after the the hour
of of riotous waters when the valleys are dull and still of life crickets
have given up their quest and robins
are nowhere to be seen even among the the scheduled order of of a a a day after the blind of summer colors
and the dreams of streaming light so urgent after all this as you walk along plain streets and gutters even then you find find it waking you you find these leaves leaves lifting dry leaves of a a a maple
that rise at at your feet sweep in in in in circles whispers
of invisible wings beating
your your chest your your cheeks even on such such a a a bare autumn morning
on such an an empty stretch of land only hours before dark