i am a leaf --
my life changes 
like the upcoming seasons

it begins soon after
the warmth fades away
it leaves me exposed, bitter
i change

i begin to feel cold
i fall and crumble up
dissolving into the world around me
with no intention of recovering

i unexpectedly sprout from a different source
a new beginning
a new start

my life is lush and radiant once again
and i can move on
knowing that i will have enough energy
to keep me feeling alive
for a while, anyway

i continue to grow
i quickly absorb what i need
and hope that fate changes
i do not want to make a mistake
i do not want to fall
but it is inevitable

i feel unusual
tense
stressed
my energy soon dies out
everything beats down on me
like the scorching hot sun

the warmth is soon peeled away
and it is quickly replaced
by the familiar, chilly wind
an ongoing cycle

i am a leaf --
my life changes
endlessly


y.v