The Voices Project
Follow us
  • POETRY LIBRARY
  • ABOUT
  • SUBMIT
  • RESOURCES

Leaf Cycle Minuet~ By Joshua H. Baker

7/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Driving south, leaves leave pavement with lift, wind tossed, 
Breath bereft of cost, a heft across white lines, rolling

turned and tossed, skin folded in on self, 
Like a gift box of inlaid rosewood dream whorls 

unfurled leaves now a youthful green, later mature gold
finally the crispy russet brown of decay 

Daily on my commute, I watch the cycle of leaves, of lives, a love
Manifest in this tree tunnel beside Westmoreland park

Evidence of birth growth death is never completely lost    
gutter pilings, backyard blowers, slick patterns on walkways

a simple reminder to put workaday woes in perspective
Fallen alder whirligig bursts against highway median 

as cars pass, an explosion of canopy tree annual debris
eliciting at least one brief smile from rush hour commuter

up close, the veins of a leaf are like so much tatted lace
in decay, its geometry more beautiful yet for imminent demise. 

Still we fear death, and wish that like the leaves, 
we could return, wearing coats of fresh colors. 


Author Bio:
Joshua H. Baker has published writing in publications such as Latitude, Gnu Journal, and Adirondack Review. He lives with his wife and pets in Oregon, where he hikes as much as he can. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Poet Search

    by last name

    Archives

    January 2023
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012

    RSS Feed

Contact The Voices Project: editors@thevoicesproject.org