autumn came early for New York City
before the leaves, bronzed
and crimson
before the laughter of children
in central park
twinkling sounds
of dog-tags on a dog’s collar
joggers swishing ankle deep
through brittle trails
this September
a funnel of debris
vacuum of understanding
relinquishes
such arbitrary scale
high heeled shoes
wedding bands, desk top
photos, monitors, broker files
telephones, cafeteria food trays
pretzled beams of steel
cornucopias of concrete pieces
and rising through the dust
not exactly rubble
numbers the ranks of angels
-Donna Michelle Hill