Explaining to a Leaf (softly sad)

Free Verse

Explaining to a Leaf

~ loneliness ~

Winds stalk me,

leaves tremble at my approach …

they are frightened

of the cold that follows.

In hushed, rustling whispers,

as I pass, they ask,

“Why is it you are not afraid?”

Un-answering, my feet march on,

trodding on their fallen brethren,

lovers, sisters, and friends ...

why bother with answers.

Would they understand?

How do you explain to a shivering leaf

that the cold can’t be as bad

as waking up tomorrow,

finding it’s become

as lonely today as every day

is going to be,

what it’s like

finding the same empty bed,

with the same lone hair

stretched out across your pillow;

a single-stranded ghost,

the constant reminder

that all too often,

hearts,

like seasons …

share a kinship of change?

Author's Note

Picture. Compliments of Google images.

Please, feel free to offer constructive criticism and/or well-meant comments. : )

Reviews

[T.S. Ulmus]

Constructive criticism!? How could I possibly dare? This is a masterpiece. In my first read through this piece I was amazed at every turn. You strike me as a man that wouldn't appreciate pure fawning praise but I cannot come up with anything but praise. A master stroke of a true artist.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you most gratefully, Syr TS 🌿

I can conceive of nothing more graciously humbling or genuinely rewarding than to receive such appreciative sincerity, praise, and accolades for one of my earnest Free Verse pieces.
Coming from a fellow-poet so highly accomplished, admired, and respected, as yourself, I am amply assured my hopeful efforts have proven worthwhile.

Well, a little fawning never hurt a thing. ; )
Bountifully overjoyed … your grateful friend ⁓ Richard 🍃

[R.E. Ray]

Nature reminds us we have more in common with other living things than we realize. Life and death surrounds us; the spring daises and the fall roses and trees, life’s continuing cycle, us included. And, the loneliness grips the reader from the first to last line, seeing the lonely man walking in a dying season. All captured brilliantly in this poem.

[Richard🖌]

How true what you say is, Sir Ray 🍂
I completely agree, if one is actually consciousness and awake enough in the ways they can understand and feel it.
To me, beyond the everyday existence of typical human experience, life and death is all there is … ALL is ever in the endless process of evolving, and it's such an enormously powerful realization to constantly know, as I'm rather sure You do.
There is little I enjoy more than blending nature with human nature into my ink.

Thank you most kindly and gratefully, My Friend, for selecting this one to read and share your wise thoughts over … bless your day! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Richard🖌]

"conscious" of course. : )

[Diabolicalbeard]

I feel like a leaf after reading this poem

[Richard🖌]

Then,
I guess you're frightened, shivering, and don't understand.
Thanks for the read! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[AnnieLou]

There's a peace about this poem that is misleading, a perfect play in my eyes, because when you feel this kind of loneliness is does all but bring you peace. There's also a cold that the words carry and it is emanating from each verse. I can feel the loneliness seeping into me again and it brings about memories of a darker time. The emotions that come from this type of loneliness are so well captured and are conveyed through such beautifully simple language. Well done, sir!

[Richard🖌]

Hi, AnnieLou 🌸
Isn't it amazing how words sometimes open emotion and sensation that actually feels real enough to awaken parts of us we may have thought are settled, or (perhaps) we are convinced we can't feel anymore?
Take loneliness, for instance: Just think of all it encompasses and enfolds in us of yearning, aching, desires, and needs, of how it inspires us to reach out, to open-up, how sweetly vulnerable it makes us, even if we try not to be.
How enthralling it can be to touch upon the page, within the aura of revealing words.

With warmest, most grateful hugs … thank you, AnnieLou! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Hayley]

I've never been in a relationship like that, but you convey loneliness very well. I guess when you put it the way you do, humans, despite being very social creatures, are often very lonely as well (at least, I can be sometimes). I was definitely thinking of the phrase "shaking like a leaf" which, while cliche, is a good way of expressing fear... but no, this is something different, something much more existential and deeper.

[Richard🖌]

Ya know, Haley?
Every once in a great while someone comes along one feels an almost spontaneous affinity with, that's so luringly appealing the urge to follow them is primally instinctive … I'm guessing you grasp my inference.
In-any-event, it's especially nice to know we relate in the deeper ways you've so adroitly let me know, by your soft touch in review.
Thank you, Hayley, for reading and sharing your take on this rather solicitously sad piece.

Bless you ever-so warmly, Dear Poetess! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Such a contemplative and poignant poem Richard. Your scene-setting of stalking wind, rustling leaves and impending cold is brilliant. Indeed, “Would they understand?” the profundity of human loneliness? Your personification of natural elements is beautiful, as are your language, form, flow. The ghostly metaphor here grabs us with skeletal hands. We mourn the loss of love with you. Excellent write my friend!
P.S. Huge Congrats on the publishing of your book! You must be so deservedly proud. Wish you much luck with it!

[Richard🖌]

Beautiful, Annette 🌼
Your ways in how words seem to come alive from the warmth of your voice, how it speaks such fluently empathetic gentleness unto my shared emotion.
Then, there is the unselfish praise and appreciation released into my core from your own that is the kind of gratification that renders writing and sharing so wonderfully worthwhile.

You sweep me ever-so warmly, Annette ⁓ Richard 🍃

PS: Thank you for your accolades on the book, too … I'd be especially proud if you grab a copy at: https://www.amazon.co.uk

[Richard🖌]

(or) https://www.amazon.com

[Beccy]

'Why is it you are not afraid?'

Such a loaded question; and one that the only possible answer, is; 'I am afraid little leaf, but like all of my kind, afraid of so many different things.'

A brilliant concept and quite beautifully executed.

Beccy.

[Richard🖌]

I guess loneliness is more fearful than cold wind, but not to a shivering leaf.

Thank you, Beccy, for sharing this little piece with me for a moment … I feel so less lonely, now. : )

Keep warm, Dear Poetess … hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Lydia Shutter]

Life is filled with changes and those who learn to adapt are the happy ones. The overwhelming loneliness you express in this poem touched me. The fact someone would tell his or her secrets to an inanimate object...well, that proves the depths of the loneliness. Good personification and excellent emotional expression. Lydi**

[Richard🖌]

G'mornin', Dear Lydi 🌸
There always a smile on my face when I see your name as reviewer to one of my humble efforts, because I know I'm in for an intelligent, appreciative, and encouraging treat, as you've so adroitly proven in your take on this rather metaphorically poignant little Free Verse.
I knew if anyone would actually "feel" the essence, it would be You.

Bless you, your ever lovely mind and heart, Lydi … big hug! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Lydia Shutter]

My pleasure, Richard.

[TealDreamer]

This poem actually gave me goose bumps while reading! I could feel the sadness and to me desperation coming from the lines. I loved the stanza after the line "would they understand?" That stanza stuck with me. I truly was moved by this poem, thank you for sharing it!

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Dear Poet : )
How nice to receive such a timely, attentive response to my review for your own fine poetry, and with such rewarding and encouraging sentiments, at that.
Nothing makes a bard feel his work is appreciated more than when the reader let's him know they've connected in some meaningful way, and you've let me know with several deeply inspiring sparks.

With a review such as this, how can I resist trying again … thank you sincerely! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Crowley]

The comparison is so very good in this piece. And the wondering from both sides why the or if the fears of the other are even measurable in the others existence. Those last stanzas are so hollow in feeling and turned this from a thoughtful intermingling of existences to an all out lesson in emotional consciousness and the starkness of being so lonely that no one can understand what you are going through. Heavy and lovely at the same time. Loved this!

[Richard🖌]

Thank you most effusively, My Fine Friend! 🍂
The way you put it, there is scant doubt you've found something palpable in feelings and sensations emanating from the words, lines, and verses of this rather metaphorically expansive work of sheer poignancy.

Such a review as your is one 0f the key reasons I always keep my olde pen filled and ready. Blessings for your weekend, Syr Crowley! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Saoirse K.]

i adore the way you started this piece
the first stanza sets such a potent mood for the rest of the poem
i can almost feel the chill of the lurking wind at my back
made colder still by a nervous shiver at the thought of it stalking me
an inevitable force of change
beautiful imagery used throughout the piece
and i enjoy the thought of "explaining to a leaf"
there is a melancholy charm about the notion
futile as it may be
nice write

[Richard🖌]

Thank you most warmly, Saoirse✨
Your take, expressed understandings, and rare touches of genuine sensation, derived from this work's ambient timbre, more than sweetly ignites an olde bard's sense of desired aim to successfully accomplish composing for and fulfilling another's grasp of that which beautiful imagery exemplifies … if nothing else (and, there is).

This, alone, that you've inspired, is gratification beyond the cliché of mere words … with most appreciative hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃