Fell

         
Fell

"Dearest do try and enjoy yourself"

Bent at the waist, hands on knees retching

Atop hundreds, thousands of miniature brown leaves

"I'm going inside" striding towards the lighted porch

Straightening up crisp air hitting throat, lungs

Collapsing on already bruised knees sidewalk bound

Fingers clearing space amongst dead foliage

Grit, dirt, stems and seeds disintegrate at his command

Waves of satisfaction dormant for years wash over him

Settling on his back smiling puerilely While a cavalry

of hundreds, thousands of miniature brown leaves

tumble from the sky and envelop him Eyes glazed

falls asleep mouth agape When they discover him

the next morning, frigid, suffocated, in his palm they find

two of the hundreds, thousands of miniature brown leaves

Intact