dried dull yellow big leaf maple
bouncing and skittering
backside up
on legs I can’t understand
following me
dancing the unpredictable wind into
my heart as gift
gorgeous scarlet vine leaf maple
doesn’t dance as well
and the exquisite tiny yellow weeping birch leaf
doesn’t dance at all
they bring different gifts
I can’t figure out if life is a gift to be slowly unwrapped, almost like a strip tease
Or a puzzle to be put together backside up so you can’t see the picture.
* ‘ees a puzzlement’ –the King of Siam trying to figure out Anna
This week’s submission for One Single Impression (prompt 35): Gift
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You’ve done a great job interpreting this wonderful prompt. I also like your question re: life being a striptease or a puzzle. I think perhaps it’s a bit of both. Glad I stopped in. G
Love the way you’ve used dancing leaves as a metaphor for life. The music station I"m listening to just started playing "all the leaves are brown and the sky is gray…" as I write this.
I wish I could learn to dance to that unpredictable wind, Beth!
Enjoyed this. Some great images. As for me, life is a puzzle. It’s what keeps us fascinated by it.
Such is the wonder of a gift. There are many dances of life. I love when the leaves spin in the wind here in the northeast. Thanks for this.
I love the "dances the unpredictable wind into my heart as gift." These are lovely. Your question at the end is wonderful too. A little of both, maybe.
This poem made me smile because the leaves often look like small animals when they skitter across a street.The nature of the dance is intriguing.
dear beth,
very evocative & beautiful,
many thanks..
Beth, I just read your comment about not being able to follow my blog. I was not aware that was even possible. Perhaps it is because you do not have a ‘blogger’ blog?
This ‘puzzlement’ works well for me! Love the layers and the thoughtfulness of the words and imagery!
My driveway is covered with those brown maple leaves right now. I think life is more like a puzzle, you can always look back and see things perfectly clear. But-just realized you can do that with a strip tease, too.
Very lovely. I do like your likening of life to a strip tease. Can’t say as I ever thought of it that way. Thanks for that.
I think life is an unfolding and a puzzle … your gifts and words paint a picture and bring missing pieces together … peace & love, JP/deb
Wonderful delicate observations about the nature of leaves… and the nature of life.
upside down dancin… somehow that appeals to me… beautiful
after reading your words i am inclined to say life is both!