thick dark clouds stacked up
like planes waiting to land —
losing my father

testing its pull,

the fox hesitates, looks back —

long November nights

leaf-kicking season —
I dream again that we walk
side by side 

in invisible ink

on every star map you taught me —

your name, your name, your name

a nearly new moon —

we work on our

origin story

sunny park bench
with a cushion of leaves —
fall's invitation

with the leaves fallen
a hidden nest appears —
birds we never saw

follow me down —

I’ll hold the candle

you hold my hand

searing gold and red

in one tree, seeming like two —

my ache and anger