Dusk in Fall

A bird has landed on the kale,
the thick leaves bouncing
like a metal spring at the
playground where my children
played when they were
young, and I like that
a month after moving in
we decided the dining room,
where I sit now, would have
a botanical theme. After all,
we know so little about
the miracle of growing things,
and when we, in the church pew,
were listening to children,
adults now, tell stories
of their mom who died
a month ago, which
was the week we moved in,
I was happy we were
asked to wear bright-colored
clothing at the memorial,
the light in this room
fading and beautiful on the wall.