there once was a lonely little leaf
champion of his tree, soul survivor of a bitter winter
one-by-one he watched his exquisitely green opponents
fade, turn and die
until at last remained he, singular resident of the tree
and with a shudder and shock
was hit with the vein-cracking chill
in his moment of triumph
he had forgotten what he was meant to be
and now too strong to fall, this lonely little leaf
stands guard over all