LEAVES

LEAVES


THERE WAS A SOUND OF JOY TO THEIR LEAPING
TO THE SUDDEN WIND THAT SHOOK THE TREES
AND SHOWERED DOWN THE LEAVES
SOME FLOATED AS IF PASSED FROM HAND TO HAND
SOME SPUN OR LOOPED OR GLIDED DOWN
SOME RESTLESS ONES LEFT THE GROUND
SPIRALED IN THE WIND
THEN FELL DOWN

THE FIELD MOUSE
WISHING FOR GREENER TIMES
RUSTLED IN THE LEAVES
EACH FOOT STEP TELLING WHERE HE WAS
IF THINGS DON'T GET ANY BETTER HE THOUGHT
I THINK I'LL GO TO SLEEP

THE WILD DUCKS FLEW
FLIGHT AFTER FLIGHT
OVER THE HILL TO LAKE AND SHORE
A CERTAIN SENSE OF AWE TO WATCH THEIR COMING
A CERTAIN SENSE OF WONDER

OF BEING CAUGHT UP
IN SOMETHING
FAR BEYOND OUR BEING
A RHYTHM AND A PULSE
SPELLED OUT BY LEAF AND MOUSE AND DUCK
A FEELING
THAT IF WE COULD MOVE TO THAT RHYTHM
THERE COULD BE
A SOUND OF JOY TO OUR LEAPING

Frank A Vollmer