Leaf Art Poem by Don Pearson

(For Mary Elms)


We prepare your exhibition
In the Blue Walnut
Under the bemused gaze
Of Debbie and Gary.
Cascades of laminated Autumn leaves
Flutter from the walls
And shower around us
As if we were under trees
On this glorious October day.

Tables and chairs dive for cover
While customers flee in panic and
A stepladder waltzes in pursuit
Of the snakes of leaves
With me unsteadily atop
Bellowing for calm.

A traffic warden peers
Through the windows,
Laughs maniacally
And tickets our unresisting cars.

The more cooperative exhibits
Go about their normal business,
Philosophical about such chaos,
Having seen it before.
The “Water Lady” looks down serenely,
“Poppies” induce their own slumber
As ”Time” ticks away
And the spun “Spider”,
In its woollen web,
Sucks the life
From our day.