10-23 Last Call

you said you wouldn't,
fall,
for a writer,
but how else, do I?

tell you, these woods,
feel empty, these leaves,
collect, crumble,
into my hands, these words,
collect, crumble,
into my hands,
these woods,

feel,
your shadow,
behind me, walking,
your shadow,
behind me, walking,

away,
as the last bells of evening,
call,

your shadow,
collecting, crumbling,
words into my hands,
into these woods,
collecting, crumbling,
words,

I am, again,
looking down,
an Autumn, unwinding leaves-

alone.