Stay yet a while’ Begged the tree of the leaf, ‘For this is but, time in transit Just a season, meant to pass The bite of cold Will release its hold Then again will there be The season of plenty Stay yet a while’

‘Nay, I can’t tarry,’ The leaf affirmed, ‘The others have left, so will I The grip of cold is strong And to it you might yet succumb Bent over as you are by the force of gale... Whence again shall I receive the invite of wind? So the time is nigh to let go Forthwith I bid bye’

The tree understood the leaf’s quandary And even as it wondered, How was one to choose Between holding on and letting go? How could it tell the leaf In separation, it isn’t the tree that withers... Resigned as it were To the play of nature In its parting smile, it hid its sigh