you’ve never known a fall without
me. you never pressed your
paws over these late
leaves

alone. the truth is we are made of
these fallen needles, blades
bloodless, these gone
ghosts. when

a chlorophyll situation breaks
down, the carotenes and
xanthophylls come
through. these

reds, these oranges, these pinks:
they belong to the same leaf
body. they are made up of
the same leaf veins.

and the green is only beautiful
because it turns. and the
red is only splendid
because it drops.

you will know more falls alone
and we will know more falls
together and we will
know, and know
these forgotten falls, forever