All of the leaves are beginning to fall,
A free fall dive from the feathery trees to the solid pavement.
Neither the grass nor the road will cushion the blow-
There is nothing to protect them now

Without something to make sure she does not get crushed, she will surely crumple
Like the reddish-brown leaves under my boots.

Watching the leaves fall
Spiraling
Aren’t they afraid of getting hurt?
Aren’t they afraid of the crunch of the unavoidable crush?

There is almost a certain luminosity in the way she smiles when she
Talks about him.
She shines so brightly when he’s
On her mind.

Every leaf I see is falling in the
free fall with
The wind and
The adrenaline.

She says he is like a classic fall day:
Sunny, warm…
But wait, isn’t there a threatening, nipping cold too?

I now understand all of the leaves
On all of the trees
That are falling
Down to the ground,
Just like she is.