wait for us

Some of the leaves fallen from the trees on the sidewalk beside St. Mary Star of the Sea have hearts their falling has revealed. Crimson flashes, held in by the rest of the leaf’s brilliant yellow. Under the gray skies, their mother waves in the wind. Again, this death, a fall from up above, is beautiful. What else dies under our feet, every day that we walk around here?

Some small part of me believes that on one of my many walks out in the city, I’ll find a dog, lost and needing shelter. Doxy will love him, and we’ll take him in, and it will be what is supposed to happen. Little leaf, we’ll come and find you. We’re out, every night, in every kind of weather. Down at the end of Carroll Gardens, near Hamilton and its danger. Don’t go that far. Stop near the dark playground of St. Mary’s, where no one plays, but long shadows of trees protect us. Stop in the other leaves with hearts. That’s how you’ll know…don’t be afraid. We’ll be there soon.