The Leaf by Chris Abel

The Leaf

Does the last leaf on the tree feel lonely?

or is it proud of its resilience?

clinging nobly in the face of Winter's army

and its unrelenting approach

Does the last leaf regret its choice?

to hold onto Summer's fading embrace

and the umbilical branch that gave it life

for all its friends are now gone

having danced briefly in the cradling air

and tumbled silently to the ground

Is the last leaf simply afraid?

to lay down on the sodden Earth

and accept the Fate of Autumn

does it not wish to laugh one last time with its friends

who run along the ground like joyous children

zig-zagging and jumping as they wind breathes upon them

Does the last leaf know it is the last?

that its crown of gold, yellow and red must also pass

and one day fade to brown

does it know that it too will inevitably fall

and find itself dreaming the dreams of spring 

sleeping in the shadows of the forest floor

as part of the quiet festival of life yet to come