Autumn Passing

Oh the naked trees of Autumn,

Crowned in nude display --

Once golden boughs of Summer

Now bound in Winter’s sway.

Headlights pulse bright,

Striped the trees with white.

The cold principle fuels me

As their woman’s hunger fuels

Construction

And subway workers.

Corporate housing looms,

Office building heaven

Skyscraping the low-cut horizon

Of smog.

I trench on past Summer carcasses,

Fallen in their trenches,

Though her broken bones

Have bled my feet,

I have summers left to meet

And winters still to beat.