You Rose in September

A flurry of leaves 

covered you.

Invincibility on your breath

always led to bad decisions. 

But you survived, 

learning unsustainable lessons 

through this trial and error

until your errors received a trial. 

Autumn grew exhausted, 

relenting to winter. 

There you remained, 

under a pile of leaves.

Wetter. 

Colder.

Encased under the weight 

of thoughts

never pried free. 

If only time resented itself,

as much as you, 

it would turn back,

alongside. 

Present in the warmth of September,

surpassing all expectations

of elation 

and bliss. 

For a moment, you sit

a flurry of leaves 

covered you. 

And yet, you rose.

Michael Carney