songbook: Autumn in New York
Why does it seem, long
after I left, long after she
left, autumn invites Aunt
Stella down from her
penthouse to walk her
way into it, just a few
blocks east, until 93rd
stops being west.
And the hurried grid of Manhattan
spread-eagles suddenly onto rocks
and grass and Stella can pass
through birds scurrying through
what’s left of their September
sounds, and Stella can still sniff
past her own perfume and still
inhale auspicious splendor of
autumn decay.
Passing the benches of
Central Park, she kicks her
Bergdorf boots through
unpackaged piles of
crackling russet riot which
the trees, green gone, would
not hold on to.
Stella turns to me to wonder
with me what it will be like to
be scattered and remembered
this way.
Written By: Jeff Kaliss
About the Author: Jeff Kaliss has been studying creative writing and music at City College following the completion of an MFA in creative writing at San Francisco State University. At City, he’s appeared in Forum in various genres, read at Lit Night, and hosted the Poetry for the People Podcast.
Visual Art “The Fog” By: Nikos Kihem
About the Artist: Nikos Kihem is a bicycle, motorcycle, world traveler and music lover. Enjoys reading graphics novels in newly discovered lonely benches. Awards winning photographer and writer living in Athens,Greece. Poetry publication“οι στροφές και ο δρόμος”(the road and it’s turns). You may visit him at kihem.com or send an inquiry to nikos.kihem@gmail.com.
Forum Literary Magazine 