Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Leaf

I

Green and pretty

sun shining through

II

Wind blowing

Leaves swirling and spinning

III

Autumn comes

and kills the leaves

dead and brown

and falling from the trees

Some unlucky soul

ends up having to pick up the leaves

IV

In a forest

lay blankets of leaves

Natural bed and canopy

V

I hate the leaves, its

smell of nature

unlike civilized concrete

VI

floating on the wind

a ship on a journey

unlike the ship, its

destination is unknown

VII

crinkle, crinkle

in my fingers

and to my amusement

crinkle beneath my feet

VIII

The forest is a

passage into

mystery and adventure

but the Key

is hidden beneath

a leaf

IX

Beneath a leaf

on top a leaf

in between

a leaf

X

And on the stream

it is floating by

over fish and rocks

under sun and moon

it is off to find…

XI

In this desert

I wish to find

any real sign of life,

a leaf

XII

a leaf

alive or dead

is still just a leaf

XIII

Through a window

I see it blown

many tumble and stumble

while a few cling onto

the tree, their life

and until the last does stumble

I will never fall