Roofers rest under branches’ shade as scraps of gold

fall to their laps. They are halfway through their workday.

Each winter, you crawl the eaves to find cracks where rain

seeps in. We ought to replace every shingle. Is our liaison

likewise at midpoint? Behind us long nights of tears, their

knowledge, ahead the rare and precious astonishments.

This…our communication. Walk with me before all the season’s leaves

scatter to swallow sidewalks in drifts. Squirrels beg us to Prepare!

Photo:  elephant journal archives