poem to mom, owed to Alzheimer’s

and there you perch in your birdcage
high atop the trees and neighbors
observing the undulation, marveling
at the colors the world makes as it rots away

spying on leaves better left alone
compassionately watching them let go & twirl
broken helicopters spiraling down
resisting gravity with nothing but air & style

when they finally hit the ground
they seem to settle in for the duration
content to wait until it's time to act again:
meatless bit players in the animated carnival of love & fear.