twice
it found its way
 
to our third-floor classroom
arriving shyly

hands in humble veneration
body bright green with grace

it glowed in the afternoon light
one morning

after the first touch of december
i found it

curled cold and flameless  
i held it

to the baptism of the rising sun
i offered it

one final step upon the wind
a perfect leaf drifting down

we make our way  
through the chaos of days

we seek
the sigh of trees
  
we long for moments  
in the listing sun