In the tallest tree,
On the longest branch,
Lives the humble leaf.
Its green hue has faded,
Revealing the hidden colors.
The oranges and reds,
Until now unseen,
But ever present.
As the autumn winds blow,
The leaf’s stem is tested.
Even in the twilight of life,
The leaf does not consider its future.
The fall comes quickly,
But the leaf does not wonder,
“Will I land well?”
Nor does it ask the winds,
“Where will you carry me?”
The wind blows,
And the stem breaks,
Starting the leaf on it’s descent.
Through the air it dances,
First one way and then another.
The wind has become its partner,
And together they waltz through the sky,
As the sun casts a spotlight on their performance.
Lift. Twirl. Dip.
And the wind rests its companion upon the earth.