In Defense of the Small and Brief

A Fall Confirmation

Pine Siskins sparkle
not in black flecks

but in a chorus
of urgent high voices

as grit flying wild
in a river current

rounding rocks unseen
in the October sky.

They answer accusations

that my life is too small,

too plain, too short.

The maple joins the defense

as green veins bleed to red

and leaf upon leaf release

into a season of letting go

into a request of the wind

that a breeze catch our fall

swing us in a rocking descent,

tumble us in a friendly roll

with gold and red companions

before we melt as leaves do
in December rains.