Leaf Release

I stood in the Peace garden,

just to “be”

on this last day of September.

A small autumn leaf let gravity take over,

after a life time of spring and summer dancing green,

and let go.

She let go of all she had known:

of her leaf community,

of the branch which had nourished her,

of warm sunshine and cold rainy memories.

She swayed in the wind as she had done

so many times before,

with dancing delight.

Now the cool gentle breeze was just enough

to loosen her grip.

She was released, just as I looked up

to see her floating uncertainly,

obeying gravity.

With one last dance – her finest perhaps –

swirling and approaching a resting spot,

she landed softly with surrender,

on a bed of fallen leaves, gone before.

She will now nourish the soil

to give new life in days to come.

Lord, may we learn when to hold on

and when to let go.

May we give life to others,

As we surrender to your love

and soft resting place.

Dedicated to my Aunt Harriet, as she surrendered to gravity’s pull of a long and well lived life.