Submissions by arustictype

i've seen you in such places:
on my commute, in the countless
windshields pouring by, your face
behind every few pairs
of sunglasses

at the grocer's this week, the items scanned,
your eyes taking me in
and another's voice asking,
at the prompt, me method of payment.

one day it will be winter.
i know   i know     who wants
to hear about that sort of thing

with it so far off still. i
watch the one cherry tree
behind us scrubbing its dead leaves

away in the rain. i watch
those dull leaves dropping, like
scales, to the rough patio slabs

before flushing out of sight.
there are so many trees,
with so many brown paper leaves

falling, a few from each tree
at once, easing toward that
final, altogether falling.