Suddenly a bud breaks forth
With all beauty and expectant life.
Held steady by the branch which holds it;
Secured by love through day and night.

The full beauty of this new birth
Still held within its being,
Is nourished by that which keeps it -
By that which sees the unseen.

Soon the lovely leaf is seen
In all of its great splendor;
The colors show such giftings.
Its potential, who can measure?

Suddenly, though held so close,
That life is drawn away
By earthly pleasures, joy unmeasured;
That leaf now flies away.

Once released, it flies unfettered,
Free from all that held it.
Able to go now its own way
Forgetting the one who kept it.

The freedom feels alive and new,
True joy it seems revealed.
Hovering above all that was taught
The branch’s ways concealed.

As quickly as the freedom came
So fear that one now knew.
Unhappiness and misery,
The days of joy now few.

Falling, falling, down so low
To places yet unknown;
Beneath the hands that held it close
To the ground – alone.

The cold of winter covers up
The beauty of the colors.
Death now closes in that heart
Upon it darkness hovers.

But, the hands reach down to lift me up.
That voice of comfort lulls me.
She speaks to me encouraging words.
Her wisdom breaks me free.

Once again I fly so high
But, not so far again
From loving arms and faithfulness;
My mom and I ascend.

To places high and lifted up;
To heaven’s perfect love
I find myself where I belong,
Where she saw me all along.


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