-- Leaves Hanging from Trees --

By John Herlihy

Leaves hanging in multitudes from trees,

Their lined faces gaily waving in the breeze.

Blazing colors enlivening a forest primeval,

Loud colors amid the silence of a cathedral.

In the autumn season hanging by a thread,

Burnished yellow, orange and crimson red.

Only a few minutes left in the life of its hour,

Therein lies the secret of their special power.

Impervious to the threat and not afraid to die,

We stare in wonder feeling an impulse to cry.

Leaves that for centuries continue to be born,

Honored as instruments these trees to adorn.

What about all those birds standing in the trees,

Sleeping peacefully amid the camouflage of leaves.

Canaries return to the trees after making rounds,

Arguing among themselves making garrulous sounds.

The leaves finally break free, are falling and falling,

A moment of pure bliss, enthralling and enthralling.

Figs falling from trees with their signature sound,

Almonds swiftly falling to lie quietly on the ground.

What began as mere flower buds gleaming with flair,

Morph into luscious fruits as apple, peach, and pear.

In the end, they all finally fall from the beloved tree,

To fly freely for just one moment like a bird or a bee.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Sunday 23 July 2023