Autumn Falls Fast

Autumn falls fast again, 

I can't seem to shake the gaze, 

Staring into dormant air, 

Her face becomes a blade. 

Chiseling deep in the memory tree, 

A painted linden face, 

Strung up as a marionette, 

Hanging in the gray. 

Splice these strings and separate 

This puppet from the limbs,

A reminder of this time that's gone 

In those moments that I should forget. 

Lay in leaves where color fades 

Then spin me on a frigid lawn, 

Shredded strings where I'm placed. 

It's easy to get tired of toys.

So many thoughts come back to you, 

The melody from your old winter shoes. 

Could we lay here all day long, 

Though you've gone chasing western palms? 

Under the oak, a forgotten friend, 

Our time left, where we went dancing.

(Written in 2010)