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Fall
Back
by
Laura
A. Ciraolo
For
my sister, Donna,
1958-1992
The
winds are changing.
Breathe
in and taste sharp
cold northern
air.
Observe
a knife-edged
blue-black sky
Push
back warm moisture
laden clouds.
Breathe
in and taste sharp
cold northern
air.
See
a woman sitting
at a window
Push
back warm moisture
laden clouds and
Sample
the air for clues.
See
a woman sitting
at a window
Straining
secret abilities
to read
To
sample the air
for clues to
Forecast
for the coming
day.
Strain
secret abilities
to read
Faint
signs and shifts:
Forecast
for the coming
day's
Sweet
smell of rotting
apples in the
air.
Feint,
sign, and shift;
Feel
the firm and round-red
turn soft, and
the brown
Sweet
smell of rotting
apples in the
air
Shows
that late bees
have flown before
the first freeze.
Feel
the firm and round-red
turn soft, and
the brown
Death
is a herald of
winter.
Know
that late bees
have flown before
the first freeze;
Understand
she died in autumn.
Death
is a herald of
winter
Kindling
the colors of
leaves.
Understand
she died in autumn,
Crimson
and yellow.
Kindle
the colors of
leaves
Her
crimson blood,
her yellow bruises,
Crimson
and yellow.
Believe
that
Her
crimson blood,
her yellow bruises
Will ever be the
same.
Believe that
Absolutely. Nothing
Will
ever be the same
Observing a knife-edged
blue-black sky?
Absolutely no.
Think--
The winds are
changing.
©
2007 by Laura
A. Ciraolo
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