and suddenly it was autumn again, the trees
shaking in the bare lengths of their hands, ground
scattered with remnants, rotten memories

I shiver, draw the coat in tighter, taking tiny steps
toward this halfway home, a place I needn't know
so well:

tomorrow I will throw off this bitter shawl and soak
down your smile like it is a word I've looked up
many times before but still stumble and I will
wait by the window for you to sweep me up

but for now I will sink into the floor until you
cannot see me anymore and even if you call
I won't hear the ringing.

10/10/2005

Author's Note: I wrote it all at once after churning it in my head for days.

Posted on 10/11/2005
Copyright © 2024 Lacey Smith