airflow

Paused, 

speechless

swallowed 

by a tea mug

gentle whispers rise up:

cinnamon, cardamom, ginger

Foot-

steps 

fall 

leaves

dance 

with the absurdity of 

Wednesday 

blown 

out of bounds

by the eternal breath 

of October

Soft on the sidewalk

sunbeams tiptoe

across the earth

and stream into

a corner of the mind,

projecting

children shouting

smalltown shuffles

candy apple poison lips

suspended 

over 

open air

every flavour 

of now

drips 

down

to the fruit

peeling the pit facing out

The wind speaks a language

that fingernails dragging through flesh

cannot hear

nutmeg, allspice, going, gone

Arm outstretched like a lover, palm open

willow tree lowers itself to the ground

take my hand

yesterdays

last years

tomorrows

breathed in

tossed out

swirl over

pavement

A branch reaches out to me— 

I take it.