Autumn Leaves

dedicated to a lost friend

clinging to life by a branch

attempting to delay the imposing slip

in a futile effort to remain alive

you tell yourself the pain will pass

if you can just hold on a little longer

the wind hits in a powerful wave

the cold hits you like a brick wall

the sheer weight

threatening to pull you to the ground

a cool breeze is no longer refreshing

the crisp tendrils of air reach out like tentacles

looking to drag you to an untimely death

The tornado grows stronger

it’s using you as a punching bag

swirling your thoughts together

until your clarity is all but gone

but you don’t want to give up

can’t let go

not yet.

you realize defeat is inevitable

The survival of the fittest takes control

and you aren’t at the top of the list

you’re just one leaf in the middle of a beautiful autumn

common, unneeded, unremarkable

The world will still spin

The seasons will still change

without a weakling adding to the population

as your hope slips away with each gust of air

so does your grip on reality

the storm sweeps you up

into it’s unforgiving arms

removed from your life source

your color, your passion, everything that makes you unique

drains into nothingness.

There’s no time to rethink this

You gave up

you didn’t wait for the rainbow

now an empty husk

a ghost of the bright leaf you once were

you float to the ground

now dead and gone

and wait to be crunched underfoot