Falling Leaves and Roadkill

You count the falling leaves
Just as you count the roadkill
That you swerve to avoid

They're already dead but
They could be more dead
If you hit them

The leaves are stunning
As they plummet to the ground
Dying is all well and good
When autumn does it

Why does he linger?
In fallen leaves
And roadkill

Places he never was
Are filled with him
While the places he occupied
Lie empty

Keep moving forward
Everyone says

Keep moving forward
When you see the cliff
When you start to slip
Keep moving forward

The leaves will guide you
Down to where
The roadkill waits

Or

Take a step back
Sit down
Cry your eyes out
Punch the dirt

Stay there until
Fallen leaves become snow
And
Roadkill becomes new pavement

Stay there until
Snow becomes flower buds
And
New pavement cracks

Stay there

Stay there

Stay there

When the leaves
And the roadkill
Return

Sit there and count instead
How many times
The leaves and the roadkill
Failed to take you
Off that cliff