<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=460132" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Leaf</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">It was one of so many; an army<br>of greenness; anonymous footsoldier<br>in the cause of nature’s greater good.<br>It was tree.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">First, as summer lingered into autumn, <br>it laid down its arms; the days of empire-building<br>over; no longer did it need<br>to fight in serried ranks for space.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then next, laid down the need to breathe; <br>lingered strong upon the branch<br>as old soldiers do, before they fade away; <br>boasted now, beyond loyalty, all pride.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now, its fire of life turned to new arts<br>in pensioned, eased retirement; learned<br>a new palette of colours, <br>yellows, reds, browns; how to shade<br>from one to another; how to take<br>the breath away with contrast. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then, as it relinquished hold<br>on water, took up further skills; <br>learned precious, porcelain fragility; <br>discovered sculpture, <br>curled like a dancer’s sway, <br>found arabesques and curves of beauty<br>beyond the finest human artistry. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Finally, submitted to relinquish even earth.<br>A last curling fall at a moment’s puff of wind<br>all beyond its knowing<br>brought it onto the gatepost, <br>level with my eyes, just as I passed the gate; </div><div style="margin:10px 0">displayed like some ballerina in the last pose<br>of some tragic, swan-necked dance, that time<br>could indeed stand still: so that even beauty<br>held her breath and waited…</div><div style="margin:10px 0">in that moment outside time, <br>told me all unspoken things: <br>thoughts that rest too deep for tears; <br>there where tears meet joy.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Michael+Shepherd">Michael Shepherd</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=460132" data-title="Leaf de Michael Shepherd" data-description="It was one of so many; an army of greenness; anonymous footsoldier in the cause of nature’s greater good. It was tree. First, as summer lingered into autumn, it laid down its arms; the days of empire-building over; no longer did it need to fig..."></div> </div> </div>

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