In the first few days
of turning stones and heads
the leaves atop the maples
You came. arrival was sudden
flying down on silver wings and white gloves
never really intending to stay for long
just a pleasant hello and then a drift
Turning back to the blue sky above the rest of us

But you stayed and you were welcome
as long as you didn't turn and slam any doors
leave without warning, but only a trace
was beginning to settle in our hearts
our minds, our souls
kept repeating and getting deeper and we
Turned more leaves, blowing them off the maples
in a simple breeze and growing new ones,
Turning over every stone in our path

Each day began a revolution in an ever-growing cycle
of days getting longer and time only shorter and of
the traces scarring up and hardening
into letters, words, stories set forever and as the snowdrifts
Turned to leaf shoots and blooms
friends turned to sisters turned to One

On and on, days turned to night and back to day
closer than ever, revolutions growing tighter and faster
Hearts molded by the traces to match and when I
Turned to slam a door you screamed,
upon seeing your scared eyes fill with tears
Ran back just in time to save us

Now the tears fill my own eyes, which
Turn to the silver wings and white gloves all packed and to
the same leaves atop the maple trees
Lips warp into bitter smiles as you turn to leave
and I'll stand here forever until you turn back