Autumn wind rushes up
around the stones and
bones of your sleep like
currents of blood in your
veins of branches,
like breath whispering
ten thousand invitations
for your leaves to dance.
Your leaves of stars are
the colors of red foxes,
golden lion tamarins
and yellow warblers.
It is the birds who
love you most, who
remember each year your
luminousness and fly the Earth
to rest in the fire of your arms.
Whether you are a maple named
Bloodgood; or Crimson Queen;
Fireglow; Ever Red; Garnet;
or Burgundy Lace,
birds will sing for you
their sweet music
about your melodies of light,
about your long life
on the hill of imagination.
