Last Leaves

Yellow bellied tree

Holding on to his leaves as

The first snows blow in

Like a stubborn dog

Who won’t drop his bone to
Come in from the rain

Sauna

The bench creaks as I

Lean forward, drips of sweat

Painting the dry boards.

In the round dark spots

A roly-poly puppy

Gazes up at me

swimming in a pool

of soft soothing words and the

smell of fresh laundry.

I say, ‘Hi, pup’, and

We watch each other until
He drowns in my sweat.