Old Bones
Because his old bones know
that growing things will unmake
everything we build
the ancient I meet on my morning walk
was standing in the rain today,
supporting himself with one hand
against the wall of the house, long vacant,
he's lived across from all his life
and using his cane in the other hand,
carefully, methodically,
extinguishing every green thing
that had found a purchase in the wall.
Looking slowly up,
he gave me an uncomplicated
"bonjour!"