Fall too Soon

Today while I was walking
I stepped on a leaf
and it crunched under my step
much more than I expected it to.

It is too early to be this brittle and broken-
it’s late summer when the skies stretch forever
and the cicadas sing me to sleep.

But here I am-
pondering the way back from that broken place,
shivering against the cold that has not yet but will come.
All the while, losing sight of the green leaves still on the trees
unable to feel the heat from the sun burning my exposed skin.