A leaf falls

you must be careful
with images

don’t try too hard to square circles
that’s what a poem does
if it’s done right

but it has little to do with you
and everything to do
with the leaf
currently wrenching itself loose
from the heat-blasted twig
out my window

in fact so much depends
on the altitude
the angling wind
the green brain

a leaf will pirouette
and do-si-do
and make crude gestures
while you blink

don’t put leaves in too many poems
whether they are falling in August or sprouting in April

the trees themselves may come knocking
and demand to know

are you making any money from this
are you aware that leaves have feelings
are you listening