This laziness will pass...the sturdy trunks of the maple remained the stolid
color all year. They only showed their details come the slate fall skies that
scoured from the north across the fallen leaves....the snows hissing in pellet
crystals in October late days..or the cold November days. But at the moment
their crowns are livid green..the light pinpricks through their lofty reach..
The west breeze steady through their spindly hold to the tree..Spinning about
making the beautiful song that always lulled me too sleep. The room was an
unkempt mess...but clean...I vacumed it once a week...dusted once every two
weeks...The books I was ploughing through lay stacked on the mirror bureau
with all the other knick knacks..debris from my pockets on the travels and
routes downtown and back. Summer and I still never made it to the little
falls to chill....in four years had not gone swimming. Gone nocturnal in the
two weeks with no work...Drinking coffee from the Fathers Day mug the kid
bought me from the dollarstore...Smokes Bunni ordered. The dog happy enough
to be on the little lead out back for now...The mosquito swarms that swelled
her eyes shut and puffed up her already large nose scared me from the trail
for a spell. Even she looked at me on the great roadway curve before the
trail started as if to ask..'are we doing this?'

There were others struggling....the heat and restless weather drove them
beyond their wound up hold...change was good..despite the outcomes...not easy
at all...I was holding on..holding well...this year...Even the dreams were
directing me to new answers to the old riddles like new patterns in the hedge
maze of my mind...Fall..the dusky color and heat of Autumn I waited..patiently..
the Keys from the maple would fall..like locks to each room of feelings..
I would find myself in dreams..would feel their dry skin and delicate wing...
a talisman of memory.....