…settles without a sound
A host of leaves and flowers
stirred and swayed
balancing
upon the transient breeze
emerald leaves and buds of rosy pearl
in silken tatters
scarlet shot with gold
a galaxy
from which was blithely shed
a fiery shower
falling star on star
endlessly whirling in the dark
a giant plane leaf
launched on level air
pauses to float
swaying for a moment, where
uplifted
by the atmospheric tide
that turns it slowly
over once in space
floating dead, it leaves no trace
but lapses
in a smoothly dipping glide
scooping shallow air
from side to side
in ripples that are blue
and yet are green
swirling from heaven
and then crumbling
one solitary leaf
settles without a sound
upon the path
of rain-soaked ground
lastly, descended
to reach the direst of fates
and lightly lands
with acquiescent grace
© Ann Bagnall
2014
