Paused,
speechless
swallowed
by a tea mug
gentle whispers rise up:
cinnamon, cardamom, ginger
Foot-
steps
fall
leaves
dance
with the absurdity of
Wednesday
blown
out of bounds
by the eternal breath
of October
Soft on the sidewalk
sunbeams tiptoe
across the earth
and stream into
a corner of the mind,
projecting
children shouting
smalltown shuffles
candy apple poison lips
suspended
over
open air
every flavour
of now
drips
down
to the fruit
peeling the pit facing out
The wind speaks a language
that fingernails dragging through flesh
cannot hear
nutmeg, allspice, going, gone
Arm outstretched like a lover, palm open
willow tree lowers itself to the ground
take my hand
yesterdays
last years
tomorrows
breathed in
tossed out
swirl over
pavement
A branch reaches out to me—
I take it.