Little leaf, I watched you upon the water,
as you gave yourself
to the current and the waves,
to float in a destination unknown,
to be washed ashore and become part of the earth -- the soil.

From whence did you come, little leaf,
I asked?
From which of the giant trees outside my window?
Did your life begin in the deep cold winter to become life in the spring?

You must have graced the giant tree
with your many colors of green
until you became your true self.
There you endured the heat of the sun,
the slash of the rain,
the force of the wind,
hanging on tenaciously
until age began to take its toll.

Then gracefully at the tug of the wind
you said good-bye to your companions
and let go to float gently and
gracefully down to the water.

Brown with age now and a little wrinkled
you let yourself be carried on the waves
to experience new adventures
until that too will come to a close.

Little leaf,
you have moved from my eye's view on your journey.
Continue to grace our earth
until the Creator sees fit
to return you to the soil that will give life
to another little leaf such as yourself.