Fragile

I know these leaves

are not fragile,

but I'm alone

as I brush past them:

garbage in hand,

clear sky above

sharp with dawn.

the house is empty--

no socks on the floor,

no strands of hair in the tub,

just a few shreds

of cardboard form packing

and the fragile, faint

petal-soft

scent of your missing soap.