The sudden gust flipped and sprang the coloured leaves,
pinning them in rows onto the chain-linked fence,
like a display of doll's clothes or old-fashioned brooches.

They trembled there long after the storm had dropped,
tiny quivering faces reminiscent of icons in the twilight,
each carrying a twinkle of the slowly sinking red of sun.

My cheek carries the imprint of the kisses you blew me,
I stood back to catch them as you ran out onto the street,
and later they rested uncertain as prayers on my pillow.