Autumn leaves falling

He watches the 

Leaves. They fall

In wrinkled splendour

The wet rotten traveling clothes

Of time and how

He has known failure

Wrestled with

His demons

The ones he couldn’t

Befriend 

Educate

He knows himself

What frightens him

And how he still 

Leans into

Them 

The leaves fall

and 

Part of him goes with them

He knows being open

Invites pain but does it anyway

Understanding the gift

Of himself and

Why some people

Returned it unopened 

He knows his own value

And even alone,

He rules in quiet regard