scattered leaves cross the floor
leaving wispy trails of color in their wake
I imagine the crackle a leaf would make
if I gave into the urge to step on it
crushing it into a thousand smaller pieces of nature
shattering the silence in my room
oh how satisfying that crunch would be
childhood memories would be unlocked
of cool afternoons jumping into freshly raked piles of leaves
the tiny scratches nicking your skin as the leaves
slip under your sweatshirt crackling and itching
laughter radiating through the air
and the smell
oh the smell
old grass, soft soil, and bonfires in the distance
a recent memory comes to mind
of a cousin’s child frolicking in a leaf pile
joy radiating from his eyes, core memories unlocked
laughter ricochets off the pines
and suddenly, 
everyone knows today is Charlie’s day.