Fall

Originally written on October 13, 2009.

Another leaf left the tree
Wavering in the wind
Offering what resistance it could
Drifting here and there
Caught in the breeze
One last gasp
Tipping upward
Then onto the ground
Caught by the blades of grass
Still very green and wet
From recent rains
Life and death and birth
Here yesterday and gone tomorrow
All in front of me
Behind me
Remember the summer sun
Warm on my skin
Giving life to me
To the flowers and trees
And birds and bees
Life to the green leaves
Rich multitude of different greens
Embracing life in the summer
Back to today
With a brisk fall breeze
Snatching another leaf
From the towering branches
This leaf is different
It won’t surrender so easily
Tilts this way ever so slightly
Riding the wave of air
High above the tree tops
Looking down upon all
Gazing outward
Seeing visions once obscured
By all the other
Leaves and branches
Seeing far and wide
What a glorious site
Taking a deep breath
One of many last gasps
It’s all so beautiful
The breeze settles
The leaf tumbles
Gently tumbling
Resisting as it can
Gently toward the earth
Like a feather
From a wing
Not dying
Nor leaving
Just going there
Or maybe here
Into the grass
Not grabbing
Nor catching
Just allowing
Living brilliantly for a time
Moving with the sun
Catching rain drops
Now golden with red
Oranges and yellow
A trace of green
See you again
Will be just as brilliant
Maybe more so next time