Winter flames (1987)

  

the wind's nip catches my chest

and i pull the protection

of a long black overcoat 

inside my woolen bubble

heart shakes my throat

dry crumpled leaves

of tempera autumns

rattle within my ribcage

the leaves are quickly gathered 

       in neat little piles near my        

                    armpits     

     and lit with consternation

they float off 

                      as cinders 

from gracile birds wings 

catching in the geared wind

they sweep past the cooing coeds 

    past the kaw river divider

into the winter

flames of december 

1987

Lawrence, KS