! Leaf

It was one of so many; an army of greenness; anonymous footsoldier in the cause of nature’s greater good. It was tree. First, as summer lingered into autumn, it laid down its arms; the days of empire-building over; no longer did it need to fight in serried ranks for space. Then next, laid down the need to breathe; lingered strong upon the branch as old soldiers do, before they fade away; boasted now, beyond loyalty, all pride. Now, its fire of life turned to new arts in pensioned, eased retirement; learned a new palette of colours, yellows, reds, browns; how to shade from one to another; how to take the breath away with contrast. Then, as it relinquished hold on water, took up further skills; learned precious, porcelain fragility; discovered sculpture, curled like a dancer’s sway, found arabesques and curves of beauty beyond the finest human artistry. Finally, submitted to relinquish even earth. A last curling fall at a moment’s puff of wind all beyond its knowing brought it onto the gatepost, level with my eyes, just as I passed the gate; displayed like some ballerina in the last pose of some tragic, swan-necked dance, that time could indeed stand still: so that even beauty held her breath and waited… in that moment outside time, told me all unspoken things: thoughts that rest too deep for tears; there where tears meet joy.