dog sniffing

past the trailing arbutus—
coyote scat

bitter cold day

crushing dried horsebalm
for the scent of lemons

pale clumps of mountain laurel light our way

slumming it in the leaf duff still looks fabulous

fine hairs stirring from the photographer’s breath

two missing petals but still an immaculate shadow

I jangle the loose change in my pocket

take aim at the overcast sky

the two goldenrod stalks topple together

the buzzing gets louder every time the wind blows

acts like it doesn’t even know the shadowy leaves

springing through an old fern leaf art deco stamens