Leaves
Everything leavesSooner or later -
Last bus home or
Ocean freighter.
The leaves of history books say
What’s here now will slip away,
Will leave,
Be gone.
Little Phoebe
Picked up a leaf
In the autumn woods,
Observed its pigmentation -
Hints of August green
And seldom seen
Russet, copper and
Burnished tangerine.
She brought it to me
With deliberation,
Like a precious gift,
Like a baby bird,
Held in her palm
Like the memory
Of a summer
Lost,
Like the very march of time -
Auguring leaves that shall quiver
Far beyond this rhyme.
Those sweet gifts our grandchildren bring us.
ReplyDeleteAutumn leaves may seem like treasure to a small child. How sad that as years pass they acquire ordinariness.
DeleteHa, just beautiful! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading it Sean.
DeleteI can just see her carrying that delicate leaf to hand to her old Grumps.
ReplyDeleteShe held another one in her hand all the way down to the petrol station and back.
DeleteThat's a lovely poem. You must share it with Phoebe when she's older.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting her to toddle into the poem when I began writing it.
DeletePoetry at its best. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading it Meike. You know better than most what "leaving" means.
DeleteIt's wonderful to see children enjoy the natural world and apparently it's great for their adult mental health, too.
ReplyDeleteYou paint an evocative picture
Too much screen time these days - not enough worms, butterflies and walking along sunny paths to distant farms.
DeleteYour poem is as beautiful as the leaves.
ReplyDeleteI know you speak your mind River so your honest reaction means a lot to me.
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bothering to read it Christina.
DeleteLovely poem YP.
ReplyDeleteI am glad it struck a chord with you Carol.
DeleteYour poem paints a perfect picture of the joy of Autumn leaves, Neil! I still am amazed at the beautiful leaves around me and I hope your Phoebe always has her sense of wonder!
ReplyDeleteThe other day she reminded me of that wonder Ellen. Thank you.
DeleteAn appropriate poem for the season YP.
ReplyDeleteIt was our mutual friend JayCee's post that sparked my poem into life.
DeleteIt's always interesting to see what catches the eye of a child.
ReplyDelete