acorns pelting down 
keeping some kind of time —
early November

first hard frost —
the zinnias let go of
sun worshipping at last

stones and shadows
here where my friend is laid down
days of weight and darkness

dim and bright again
the clouds shaping sunlight
to uneven breaths

spiraling climber —
we wait for the woodpecker
to come back around

pad Thai with 
sticky mango rice after —
the click of chopsticks

old concert ticket
standing in as a bookmark —
art pulling me through

he has vacuumed
and made space in closets —
the work of young love