Skeleton Leaves

Margaret V.Doran

The woods are blanketed with
          the frail remains
                    of gossamer leaves
large leaves, twelve inches across
          now, at winter's passing
                    reduced to skeletons
intricate frames on which
          bits of tissue-leaf
                    still cling
their brilliant fall colors
          faded and lost are now
                    all ecru
scattered like fine lace handkerchiefs
          as if ages of weeping are complete
                    and they are discarded in the wake

I seek the trees on which
          such glorious leaves as these
                    flourished in the before
amid the tall and powerful firs
          I find only tall, slim trunks
                    no more than four inches in diameter
my eyes travel up . . . up the height
          of each trunk, each seeming more
                    like only a branch
and at the crown I find, smaller still
          twig-limbs reaching out
                    between and through the firs
each with a leaf bud at its tip
          the humble maples are preparing
                    to unfurl their glorious gifts

Copyright © 2005 Margaret V. Doran All rights reserved.
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Updated March 8, 2005
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