Falsely Strong

to break the skin
with your teeth
molars mash cool mealy flesh

spicy sweetness, red and gold –
enchanted is the fall

daylight dips, evening looms
the wind picks up your shape,
blows away with you

those sun-kissed summer shoulders
that you thought meant everything

“that,”
you thought,
“meant everything.”

we sat breathing wise
as the new October night
stung my nose like
the storm before the cry

strong smoke smell
exudes as a fire dies
somewhere in a distant night

you will be traveling on
like a vagabond
leaving the summer bond
long gone

and in your absence, this:
separation from the whole world
failure to exist
pulling my sleeves down over my fists