Raked Leaves

autumn fills sparse spaces we occupy, seasonal change that closes in like shutters briskly paced days of chilling charm leaves dropping like wooing words of fidelity leaves that flatten the ground in patterns displacement in re-configuring trees purposeful moves to rake stained prints of color into piles rhythmic strokes that quicken in musty air tedious chore to some to me, contemplation buoyant day dreams my raked pile of impressions leaves tumbling over the ground like memories of lost days some marked by brown edges with black blotches some colored vibrant, in reds and yellows like victory I drop backwards into a stacked pile autumn's luminous shred ragged cohorts withering in traces of unease that touches me like absence I rise up gaze at the approaching clutch when clouds weigh the shambling sky in gray when cyclic tales take green to red-flamed lineage capricious leaves fall in the irrefutable tow of change Poem composed: September 13/2022