There is a single leaf flying br in this my autumn gloaming, br a leaf fluttering light br as if being orchestrated br by your words in flight br rushing to my inner ear; br 'I have fallen in love br with another you said.' br br My leaf stammered, br swaying in its downward flight br unable to remount the tree, br terrified to crash the ground br suspended forever there br as was also true of your words; br better to not reach my inner ear br better to not have my leaf touch down dead. br br Between us all these years br neither war, nor peace; br we existed in the troubled middle ground br purgatoried, unsensed, fluttering, leaf bound br frozen between tree and ground. br br Now you have burned our tree down- br lit the leaf and made it flame- br and pulled from under us the very ground. br br No matter the dead leaves, the burning tree br no matter the absent ground br these things will br in turn return br for the seasons never-end. br br Therefore, I shall take my sip of sorrow br sipped slowly from my Flask of Time br and await br the Spring.