Body Lying on Fallen Leaves

So that your green might dazzle
to remember forever the hot summer sun we rolled in as one body
a hand held out, turned red
blue sky comes down between branches growing lonely
within the dark bark the empty heart fences itself in
in every diary, pitifully wrapped and wrapped again,
leaf by leaf that figure scatters, the bridal veil of autumn
when I lay upon it the body that cannot bear to part
there is the sound of someone slowly undressing
a chill breeze wipes the wet cheek dry
longing so earnestly, until the sap runs dry,
as wrinkles deepen on the walls of the tightly clenched hand
a life poured out with devotion, believing my body was my own
the shade let down piles up over the roots
before the white sheet is spread to cover the body
the sound of footsteps treading past without regret
was the laughter left by a departing back
and so I quietly wait for the green season to come