round red leaves litter the pavement
pennies scattered from threadbare pockets
someone disappeared
and took their words with them
i thought to look because another
returned after a long hiatus
but the ghost
is a mist taken by dry winds
why dwell on another’s choices
why feel the sinking in the chest
the pit of the stomach
why ache for someone i read
but did not know
tomorrow i will look at leaves
and see pennies again
and count their value in more
than copper
Words and Feathers 