In The Season Of Retreat

The trees are the first to save
their lives in the season
of retreat. Letting leaves wither
into crumpled brown lines
but look! full of last colors;
Maple red, Oak yellow and
acid green.

If I listen to leaves, they don't
tell me about loss. They tell me
about flight, being carried,
the last tug and the emptiness
of air between, of falling and
watching; women walking, dogs
running, the folded beauty of other
leaves and the warm ground.