When the last leaf fell
from my spindle tree
& the drifting snow

blew over river

when the last leaf dropped
you looked at me
& I just saw a stranger.

When the birds
are too cold
to chant their song
& the horses snort

at muddy gate

as the last leaf fell
you looked at me
& a quiet calm
descended.

We’re up
we’re down
we’re in & out

we’re joy ‘n pain
& all of this
it has no frame

no melded steel
to bind it.

When the last leaf
fell from my spindle tree
& the grated fire was ashes
December wove its bitter

truth

& all I saw was a stranger.