Autumn Poem
- C Mae Waugh
Why don’t you just tell me the truth? When we are standing on the street corner, my hand in yours and fallen leaves blow all around. And I’m thinking about how romantic it is with the leaves and the breeze, And you’re standing there trying to figure out how to get your hand out of mine without sticking your foot in your mouth. I’m hoping the night will go on forever. You can’t wait for it to end. I’m trying to figure out how to ask you to stay While you are trying to figure out how to say… goodbye. My fingers tighten as yours loosen reflexively. You feel like my hand in yours is strangling you, But I long for you to hold me tighter, closer. The wind grows stronger and the leaves swirl around our feet.
I reach down to grab a leaf, To capture a piece of autumn in my hand. My grip on your hand loosens and you pull free— Free from me. I stand back up, reaching for your hand once again, but you have already moved out of my grasp. Where are you going? I say. You just shake your head and walk away. I stand on the street corner; a golden leaf in my hand and fallen leaves blow all around. I want to crush it, I want to squeeze it, I want to clasp it to my breast forever and ever. But my hand stays where it is—outstretched and gently cradling the memento of fall. The leaf trembles in my palm, just before the wind picks it up and carries it away.
For a moment my eye follows the leaf as it weaves and dances with its kin. But all too soon the wind sweeps it up, And I can no longer distinguish it from the other leaves. It floats away like a memory on the breeze.
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