from the trees

look
there's little better
than pennsylvania in october
the edges of the leaves

i thought of that
singing
you thought i was getting emotional
setting off a chain reaction
tissues and tears
when really
it was just the coffee
and i hadn't warmed up

maybe towards the end
i was adding some beauty to the world
if even for a small instant
like the crevices
the changing edges of
autumnal leaves

maybe it was a small offering
penance for my unbelief
gratitude for life given
nothing more than i can give
although mostly
it seems like you ask much more
from the trees