I wrote this poem a few years ago. It's appropriate to the season, so I thought I'd share it here.
photo pixabay
Mass for a fallen
leaf
On
the street I saw a yellow leaf that
a
car had driven over, leaving a
tire
print resembling a staff of music.
I
looked around for someone to show it
to,
but everyone was hurrying through
sheets
of rain. I gave it my most solemn
attention
for a moment. I could have
taken
the leaf home and dried it between
the
pages of a book, but I left it
at
rest on the pavement. I saw this as
a
minor act of love: I thought someone
else
might see it, commiserate with its
flattened,
tired condition, read the notes, and
take
comfort – just as I did when I walked
off,
humming its autumnal requiem.
I saw the staff imprint on that leaf, Jeannie. Who knew the imprint of a tire's tread could render such beauty?
ReplyDeleteThat's actually a stock photo, Tim - but I do remember having the same reaction when I saw the particular leaf that inspired this poem. (I didn't have a camera with me that day or I would have photographed it.) It took a couple of years of mulling this image over to bring the poem together, but I'm happy with it. And yes, it is amazing where you can find beauty.
DeleteI wrote unclearly, sorry. I mean I see it through your word picture.
DeleteYou write good.
Well, that is even better! No, you weren't unclear; I just misinterpretated you.
DeleteYour poem immediately transports one to a place and a day most of us have been, but which we rush through. Poetry is, to me, mysterious and wonderful in the way you poets can focus our minds on some small piece of our world and see something new about it, as you demonstrate here with a leaf on a wet street - Jeff Parkes
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jeff. As I said above to Tim, it took a long time before this became a poem. There was just something about the image that stuck with me, though. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem and took the time to comment as well.
DeleteI love your poem, Jeannie. Even moreso because today was the first day of real rain here. And we have lots of yellow leaves around here. (The only color they turn.) Blessings to you, friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Betsy, and also to you.
Delete