November

Winter is coming
its long monochrome
a tired body
weathered grey
and blemished
by the bare arteries
of freezing trees

but already
these last days of fall
the man in the blue rain
slicker has his blue
broom and stands stiff
arms out.....sweeping
their yellow detritus off
the sidewalk
the day cold through
his plastic jacket
his hands purpling
blue capillaries showing
through thinning skin