A Single Leaf Remains

A single leaf remains,
streaked red and gold.
It's veins spread out so subtly,
withered and old.
The wind sets upon it
and it shivers with the cold.

And yet, throught lifeless limbs,
the sun shines to it.
And inspired by the warmth,
it uses all its wit.

To stay on,
it clings quite tight,
wondering how it will make it
through the night.

The silvers and purples of twilight descend,
and the branch that holds it
starts to bend
with a gust from the wind.

The night takes up singing it's song,
bound to go on all night long.
And with the wind,
the leave starts to sing.
The faintest rustle like in a dream.

Then it knows it's going
when the wind starts blowing,
and it breaks, lightly floating
into the waiting stream.

And now it begins it's journey
on a river of ease,
the passing trees a reminding tease
of where it used to be.