we thought we were crumpled, but
it was just the autumn leaves' disillusionment

though you said there was corruption
evident in its darting gaze
and earthquake hands

I was only price, pearls, indecision
perhaps I was picking flowers
with a numb hand

do the shards matter more than the whole?
petals pulled and tossed with precision
he mistook her for a flower

-c.j.