Meditations on Fall (from a bunch of random books in my room) by Meagan White

the first week of august was motionless and hot

when at last— a long caesura fell

and at once it was mid-october

and that’s when i begged

“Let me do the eternal work of Autumn!”

and plucked the greenest leaf from the tree.

i let her go and over time she browned

and for once i was a very good magician

in a very small way

for it was i who controlled when the leaf fell and died.

“What tempts you to jump

from your branches now, Leaves?!”

i screamed and they didn’t reply

“Tell me your secrets! Let me in!

Lest Fall never come on its own again!”

and my threat fell on the season’s silent ears.