LATE SEASON

by David Radavich

The fox can only
be seen in the winter,

after the trees
have caught fire

and fallen to their beds,
after the valleys

stand naked
against the sky,

when ground rises up
to meet the dying

and once again
waters flood through

leaving nothing
but débris

then the thief
struts proudly by himself
across the landscape

smaller than
you’d pictured him

going after
disappearing sun.