The Leaf that Refused to Fall

 The warm August wind gently blew on all the trees on   the street,

and breathed on each shimmering leaf.

The leaves whispered to each other, “They’re coming, they’re coming.”

At midnight, the cherubs came to paint each leaf red, orange, and yellow.

Awakened by the birds, the leaves found themselves clothed with colors.

Looking up they saw God smiling and waving.

Kissed by the warmth of the sun, the leaves basked and shimmered;

at night they were pampered by the wind's caresses.

All the leaves felt blessed, except for one little leaf of one little maple tree.

Still green as can be, she awaits for her angel—was she lost on the way?

She wondered and pined as the days turned colder and longer.

The little leaf asked her friends but no one seemed to know.

 One day the little leaf felt the October wind tingled her spine.

She heard a whisper that travelled to all the leaves, “Time to go, time to fall.”

I don’t understand; where are you going? Where is Fall? She cried.

 “Don’t be silly, our time on earth is up,” in unison they replied.

Shuddering, she saw them fall—one by one blown by the wind,

Some falling below then swept and taken away.

“I am not going, until my angel appears,” she wept.

Braving the cold, rainy days, the little leaf clung to her branch

dark clouds covered the sun; and the North wind shook her.

She prayed for her cherub, still she did not come until,

one day the sun appeared; children with sparkling lights in their hands

round and round the tree they went, on top placed a big star.

  “What is going on?” She asked a squirrel passing by

“Don’t you know? Soon it will be Christmas,” he replied.

At night the small maple tree sparkled proudly for people to see

“My angel is coming,” The little leaf sang with glee.

Then people gathered around her, singing carols, “Noel, Noel, Noel".  

Joyous, she danced and danced, until she was about to fall.

Tired, she gasped, “It looks like my cherub will not be here after all.” 

 She clung to the branch but the little leaf felt her time had come—

When suddenly, the night stood still, and the singing stopped.

The small leaf looked up and saw a glittering star growing bigger and bigger, then,

the sky was torn apart and a throng of cherubs came rushing down singing,

 “Peace on earth, goodwill to all.”

The little leaf heard them but she was too weak now.

Suddenly, she heard the sweetest voice she had ever heard say,

“I haven’t forgotten you. We’re taking you home today.”

In the arms of her angel, she listened to the choir of angels sang

 “Hallelujah, the Prince of Peace is born hallelujah,”

“Glory to God in the highest.” And to heaven the little leaf went home at last.