Leaves
by Taylor Goelz
when they drive down the road
scattered with roadkill and piles of leaves
she notices the leaves
changing colors
what used to be lush and green and alive
now dying,
oranges and reds and yellows
like a smoldering fire
she asks the leaves:
what’s it like to die so beautifully?
to have people celebrate your death
and connotate it with things like
orange pumpkins
cozy knit-sweaters
and caramel apple cider
they do not cry as they see thousands of leaves
falling to their death
waiting to be frozen onto the ground
they jump in them
and they frolick
and they take pictures
of death
as she transitions from life to death
like the leaves
she will not be beautiful
she will not be shades of orange and red and yellow
she will be grey and dry
decrepate and forgetful
waiting to be frozen into the ground