‘When Leaves Fall’

 

Many long years ago

When tears were rare,

At some barely remembered

Holiday,

It came—-

The way

Great Aunt Fran

Leaned into me

Just so——

 

The scent of lilac,

Ice blue

Eyes,

Snowy coif

Swirling about,

The dusting

Of powered cheeks

To bus young ears

In a thundered

Whisper:

“The leaves fall,

Because the angels leave.”

 

Her drunken,

Ugly,

Bitter,

Daughter,

Nasty Ann,

In perfect deadpan

Sneered,

“Old fool!”

 

Now, I am old,

With snowy hair

And eyes

That beam

With an urgent

gleam

Of passion

Too,

 

For I now know,

When the leaves fall,

The angels leave.