'The Last Leaf Falling'.
Acrylics. April 2
2008
The Last Leaf
--------------------------
I am in Autumn now
With the dread of Winter's chill before me
And the sparkle of a green Spring-time
And golden glow of Summer fading fast.
Twinkling stars of leaves sprinkled my tree,
A countless wealth of vigorous life
Immeasurably numerous, for who
Would count the leaves
When they are many and our years are few?
Juicy with sap, its smooth and supple trunk
Swayed in every passing breeze
Pliant with joy and hope.
Now it has hardened:
Now the knots appear, the crevices and cracks,
The leathery skin of bark is weathered now,
Rough and toughened
By many seasons' growth and life's assaults.
Battered by storms and violence,
Drenched in rain and tears,
Overwhelmed by floods and misery,
Drowned in sorrow, petrified by fears,
Parched by neglect and drought,
Scorched by searing heat and passions,
Nibbled by parasites,
Eaten away by doubts and crawling things,
Hardbitten by bugs and bugbears,
Bored by wormholes, bored by tedium,
Windswept, lifeswept,
Blown by gusts of emotion
And gales of laughter,
Disgusted by injustice and disappointment,
All the huly-burly of the ages
Chiselling its form
Bitter and twisted.
Taller is the trunk
But stooping now
And wider round the girth!
Once a slender sapling
A sprig, a shoot, a seed.
And there, a twig on high,
A bare and brittle branch:
One leaf remains, just one bright shiny leaf,
Still green and glossy
Glinting in the sun.
I can see it fluttering above,
Taunting me and threatening to fall,
Teasing me and murmuring a gibe,
A mocking windsong whispering of death,
Mortality its song, and singing shrill.
So, fearful, every day I note the tree
With its one leaf, aghast lest I should see
It fade a little, crisping into brown,
Drying and withering
Losing verdure, losing life,
Losing its grip.
Just one leaf left
And one day, fall it will.
-----------------------------------------
8.10.2008
Copyright Kate Underwood 2008
'The Last Leaf Falling'.
Acrylics. April 2
2008
The Last Leaf
--------------------------
I am in Autumn now
With the dread of Winter's chill before me
And the sparkle of a green Spring-time
And golden glow of Summer fading fast.
Twinkling stars of leaves sprinkled my tree,
A countless wealth of vigorous life
Immeasurably numerous, for who
Would count the leaves
When they are many and our years are few?
Juicy with sap, its smooth and supple trunk
Swayed in every passing breeze
Pliant with joy and hope.
Now it has hardened:
Now the knots appear, the crevices and cracks,
The leathery skin of bark is weathered now,
Rough and toughened
By many seasons' growth and life's assaults.
Battered by storms and violence,
Drenched in rain and tears,
Overwhelmed by floods and misery,
Drowned in sorrow, petrified by fears,
Parched by neglect and drought,
Scorched by searing heat and passions,
Nibbled by parasites,
Eaten away by doubts and crawling things,
Hardbitten by bugs and bugbears,
Bored by wormholes, bored by tedium,
Windswept, lifeswept,
Blown by gusts of emotion
And gales of laughter,
Disgusted by injustice and disappointment,
All the huly-burly of the ages
Chiselling its form
Bitter and twisted.
Taller is the trunk
But stooping now
And wider round the girth!
Once a slender sapling
A sprig, a shoot, a seed.
And there, a twig on high,
A bare and brittle branch:
One leaf remains, just one bright shiny leaf,
Still green and glossy
Glinting in the sun.
I can see it fluttering above,
Taunting me and threatening to fall,
Teasing me and murmuring a gibe,
A mocking windsong whispering of death,
Mortality its song, and singing shrill.
So, fearful, every day I note the tree
With its one leaf, aghast lest I should see
It fade a little, crisping into brown,
Drying and withering
Losing verdure, losing life,
Losing its grip.
Just one leaf left
And one day, fall it will.
-----------------------------------------
8.10.2008
Copyright Kate Underwood 2008