I am fortunate to live near woods and walking under new leaves in Spring is magical. Each one of them is precious. This poem is dedicated to a horse chestnut leaf. There is something very bold about how they come into the world. Most of the mighty horse chestnuts I see these days seem to develop leaf blotch in summer, but they still produce beautiful shiny conkers in autumn.
LEAF
All winter I cowered in this brave twig,
Tossed by windy bluster, blistered by frost.
My life force lurks where gentle badgers dig,
In the sinewy roots beneath soft moss.
Now warmer Spring days urge the sap to flow,
I am just a nub on the twig at first –
A tiny fist – a shiny bud aglow.
Sunbeams tickle, I push and push to burst!
I am fresh and fragile but full of glee,
A small green hand reaching for golden sun,
I wave from the top of my handsome tree,
Hoping this summer will be a good one!
