Lonely Leaf

Spun into the air, caught in golden light,
A lonely leaf caught on the edge of the wind,
Powerless, removed from its brothers, sisters,
Dancing on the air.

Look now from whence the lone leaf came.
A mighty oak, tall and broad, at woods edge.
Against the gales see the great man stand tall,
No wind can harm him.

Crowned in green, his circlet sings many songs,
Though only through that bitter stinging wind.
But that mighty trunk doth stand tall against it,
For its roots run deep.

Down, deep into the cool dark of the dirt
Do they plunge; down below the faintest light,
Out of sight, drinking their full, gaining strength.
The tree can stand tall.

And full are his branches, all full of life,
Happy faces all turned towards the warming sun.
Those same faces left to the cool sweet rains.
Safety in numbers.

But that lone leaf soaring on a blue sea,
Caught adrift, borne on high towards the bright stars
Then dashed to earth, to settle on the floor.
The journey is done.

Decaying slowly, ash to life to ash,
The leaf fades slowly, to become that very
Ground that was the birthing place of its sire.
All hope is not lost.

For from the place where the lone leaf did lie,
A small sprout of green has appeared below,
So the leaf, job done, can lie in silence.
Eternal peace awaits.