…settles without a sound

A host of leaves and flowers stirred and swayed
balancing upon the transient breeze
emerald leaves and buds of rosy pearl
in silken tatters, scarlet shot with gold
a galaxy from which was blithely shed a fiery shower
falling star on star endlessly whirling in the dark
a giant plane leaf launched on level air
pauses to float, swaying for a moment
where uplifted by the atmospheric tide
that turns it slowly over once in space
floating dead, it leaves no trace
but lapses in a smoothly dipping glide
scooping shallow air from side to side
in ripples that are blue and yet are green
swirling from heaven and then crumbling
one solitary leaf settles without a sound
upon the path of rain-soaked ground
descended to reach the direst of fates
and lightly lands with acquiescent grace
© Ann Bagnall
2014