Scaffolding/ Leaf

29th Nov 2016

This morning the rainwater that had collected in the garden tray had turned to ice. Yes, it is official it was freezing last night. But the clear blue sky, if you could ignore the cold seeping into your bones, was like a Tuscan summer sky, the morning light filling the garden helping to create the illusion.
With reds, yellows, oranges and browns set against the blue I could almost put up with the cold for the sheer beauty of it. But I will go out with scarf and winter coat and breathe out a foggy breath and it will not be pleasant. No, no matter how wonderful the scene outside , there is still ice in the tray.

Now for some words:

Scaffolding

This old building needs restoring after long grey years,

scarred with use and abuse, concrete slabs crumbling,

broken windows of shattered dreams, vacant eyes staring.

Shape a scaffold with forklift and crane...

and mascara  ...

Cover the cracks, the tracks, from every tear that smacks

of fear -

who hears anyway.

Fill in the holes of memory loss, though no one gives a toss,

that it's going that way.

Repaint the facade of this body, scrub white green slime-

disappointment and pain, stand tall again,

proud to be noticed.

Leaf

You were born in springtime, mama tree pushing you out as a brand new bud on your branch.

Delicate baby leaf, you unfurled to become a sweet, green promise. 

Fed by your tree with water and nutrients absorbed from the soil of ancestors, you grew 

And you, in turn, produced sugar sap - nourishment for your tree.

You opened up in the rays of the sun, played and danced through the summer 

of your life, veins giving you your particular leaf shape - individual to you.

You gave pleasure and hope to those who came by your wood in those fruitful long days, 

many who came went away refreshed and replenished by your colour, your light.

You, only being yourself, unaware how much you touched so many hearts.

This was your time, your season and with others you created a tapestry of wonder,

waving from your branch , giving your magic  to all who would see.

So when the temperature dropped and your green started to fade it was hard to take.

The first signs of yellowing took us by surprise, halted us in our tracks.

But with the shortening of days, orange specks appeared all over and a weakening began

with your edges getting brittle and other leaves falling to the ground all around you. 

Suddenly it was your turn, you let go and fluttered to the earth,

And you died in the autumn as it is right that you should, but it was hard.