Strolling past the endless houses on the
faded concrete earth, with wind whispering
a melody in my ear, the beige grass
pecking at my ankles, the

breeze breathing the chilled air
down my neck, making my hair flicker
like the charcoal flames of the lost summer

fire, the raw sun reaching desperately for life
painting the emerald leaves of summer
into the lifeless leaves releasing their grasp on the
arms of the living statue to blanket
and warm the barren ground, and birds

bundling for a lengthy journey south.
The earth dissolving into slumber.
Preparing for the winter freeze.