Elegy For A Leaf Poem by Kewal Paigankar

I am only a leaf
One of nature’s fragile things.

Walk gently past me
As I lie on the pavement
Shivering in the cold of winter
And autumn’s downpour;
I only have a few hours left
Before a heavy foot treads on me
Not letting me live just a little longer
But that is Man’s nature.

I once hung proudly
At the end of a branch
Of the mighty oak
Seemingly safe from danger
Until that stormy night
The hurricane shearing the tree
Scattering me and the others
Across the southern counties
Lifting and throwing us
Until we could suffer no more.

So don’t step on me just yet
I am already hurt.
The fall snapped my stem
Leaving me gasping for breath
As the pain gets stronger
And my resistance weakens.

Don’t snatch the cusp of life
Away from me for now
Allow me to draw one last breath
Before a size 13 boot heads my way
Strident, powerful and remorseless
With a smug look on its sole.

I am just a leaf
Delicate and wondrous
One of nature’s fragile things……….