That Leaf

That leaf tries very hard to turn overin very little wind. It lifts a cornerand settles on the ground exhausted, liftsitself half over but, as the wind shifts,falls face down eating mud. It hikes half upin an attitude of prayer, then gives up.Suddenly it turns fully over, sunilluminating its dry belly. The sumof all attempts is change, yet when change comesit's finally so easy the world becomesinstantly rearranged, presentfrom past estranged, the old energy spentin almost angry astonishment.All the leaf sees is sky, appallingly wide,though it always was so -- depleted, terrifiedby sudden perspective, the outside brought inside,though it always was so.