LEAFSPAN

                             
                                 A wet black bough on cloudy sky
                                 The pressing sun would tear awry
                                 A single knob formed on the limb
                                 At first a tiny burst of green
                                       then spiral emerald strands were seen
                                       and next appeared a ship-like keel
                                       when finally the leaf revealed

                                 There, side by side, its siblings grew
                                 Their colors changed by light and dew
                                 The breeze encouraged them to play
                                 And as they aged they crossed and waved
                                        then summer sang of light and shade
                                        its music played both night and day
                                        by samba starlight, leaves did sway

                                 As flowers drooped, the fruit would fall
                                 One night the wind brought a vicious chill
                                 Jaundice yellow and fever red
                                 The limbs became a sickness bed
                                         then weakened leaf with its last strength
                                         beseeched the lightened sky's relief
                                         when snowflakes fell, the leaf lost will

                                         floating free down steep mountain streams
                                         in death a solo drifting ferry
                                         through sluices, past rock dams, frail rafts
                                         ___ at last consumed by the vast sea

 © Gay Reiser Cannon * 2012 * All Rights Reserved