found grounded bird closed in ribboned-box and buried underneath a willow snapped back to finally relax to decompose and nourish by the lake in drooping shade the felled leaves pile candy wrappers gray snow in parking lot corners with pumpkin spice scented candles with charred letters skirling up the arm dropped to sizzle and puff out white beanies flannels leather boots and jangly bronze-leafed wind chimes I sit on the patio and listen to you speak the chill of your words perched like a squirrel barking on a fence top hibernation preparation and breeze the gospel of your autumn