I see shades of green & yellow leaves as I sit out on my balcony;
some leaves look like upside-down hearts dangling from cupid’s string.
Next day, the colors bleed toward brown. Why can't it stay still?
Their shades grow dim as if someone is constantly re-editing them.
I pick out a petal from one of the chrysanthemums beneath the trees
& pray that it retains its shape & color as I store it in a hard glass jar.
My memory box keeps old letters that smell of oakmoss & juniper,
the same memory box that keeps my old chrysanthemum petals.
I see shades of yellow & red leaves as I sit under broad daylight
but this time I cannot help but notice the beauty of brown.