One red leaf waves at me, floating in clouds of green,
Photosynthesis continues for those clouds, chlorophyll
Revealing depths of life — complex process in the plant but
Simple observation for us.
Red leaf, though, shows all the beauty produced through
The year; abscission progresses, an apparent end of
Usefulness for energy, production of oxygen.
Red leaf, cling not tightly there in your place of
Former production; Rest not, pause not, nor
Make an end there, “as though to breathe were life.”
So much more — Release. Abandon
Yourself to beauty, to the
Sea of winds, to Spirit sails.
Perhaps that little girl down
The block will see
You waving as you swirl past and wave back.
She will giggle with delight, chat with
You, maybe pick you up, display
You, trace your outline before
You take flight again from the picnic table in her yard,
Having become part of her,
Having been part of tree, now
Sailing onward, neither
Yielding nor drying between pages of the girl’s princess coloring book.
Seek new glory
Floating, flashing, shining.
Leaving the tree frees us to greater joys.
