Secrets in her Fists

She held her secrets in her fists
like birds still wanting breath.
But when she called I came to her
Walked between the shadows of trees
Felt autumn wind in our lungs
Counted the clouds.
I would have whispered "I love you,"
But they were just three words and
I was just one person with a heart
too small for words so big and it felt
cruel to say something possibly untrue.
I could see the reflections
of clouds in her eyes, moving slowly
away from us. She whispered "I love

the way the leaves whisper in the trees.
What are they saying, do you think?"