in this other world
beyond wall and waking dream
the sun flickers out;
amidst the stars' perfect light
the moon rises in darkness

thoughts scatter like leaves
like words, strewn far and drying
now that you are gone
autumn settles in at last
and the world's feet are heavy

yet the stars still shine.
by their light I bring those leaves
together again—
as you wrote because of me
so I write because of you.