Falling Slow in Golden Light
Wide shot, courtyard glowing in late October sun
4:27 PM, nowhere left to run
Wool-wrapped stillness beneath the maple tree
Porcelain between hands like fragile memory
35mm film grain in honey-colored air
Brown leaves falling south to north around the wooden chair
Slow-motion branches breathing in fading gold
Distant city traffic hums beneath the growing cold
Smell of roasted coffee, chestnut smoke, rain-soaked wood
Burnt sugar drifting where the fallen leaves once stood
Fingertips motionless against porcelain heat
Velvet shadows stretch like water beneath the feet
The fountain whispers low—shhhhhhh—beside the eastern stone
A silver spoon rings once, then disappears alone
Close-up on steam dissolving upward near the face
Breathing slow enough to almost leave the place
Lens flare trembling through the leaves
Dust and gold inside the breeze
The whole world turns outside the chair
But the room stays completely there
One maple leaf falls past the eyes
Like autumn learning how to die
Golden sunlight falling
Golden leaves falling slow
Camera circles around the chair
While the whole world drifts below
Golden sunlight falling
Golden leaves falling slow
Coffee steam through the cold air
Time moves, but the room stays slow
Tracking shot by the southern fence wrapped deep in ivy green
Seven clay flower pots sleeping quietly between
A red persimmon hanging low beside the aging wall
One amber leaf lands near a shoe and barely moves at all
The kettle hums inside the house—mmmmmmmm—soft and low
North wind moves loose hair across the woolen coat
Smell of cinnamon latte, wet moss, cold November earth
Espresso from the kitchen carrying distant warmth
Lipstick fading softly from the cup
The left hand shakes once, trying to lift it up
Outside the courtyard walls, the city fades in silver gray
But here, the afternoon still quietly stays
Steam-level view beneath the dream
The garden bends into a dream
Handheld camera breathing slow
Watching amber shadows glow
Five leaves circle near the feet
Four fall still
One skips the street
Golden sunlight falling
Golden leaves falling slow
Camera circles around the chair
While the whole world drifts below
Golden sunlight falling
Golden leaves falling slow
Silver wind chimes in the distance
Stillness stays while daylight goes
Only wind through the maple remains
One amber leaf circles the empty chair
Stay a little slower