The Leaves Speak

We unfurl. We grow
much more quickly than any of you.
Daily, dawn to dusk, we create life.
We feed our homes, the trees,
so that they grow tall,
much taller than any of you.
We create life out of air,
and water and light.
We require
much less than any of you.

And when the time comes,
in the autumn,
we do the thing you do not know how to do:
we let go.

Daughter, Mother, Spring  (a song)

Hey, Mum, the rooster’s crowing and you know what that must mean!
The wind is from the south today,  
And that’s a sign of spring!
Not so fast my darling daughter,
It’s a slow New England spring.

Mum, today I saw a robin—
I really did, it’s true!
My daughter, yesterday there was a flock of twenty-two.
But it’s going to snow tomorrow,
It’s a slow New England spring.

But mum, I saw a snowdrop,
Its little head was high
Above the dreary oak leaves by the side of the muddy drive
Yes, I know, my darling daughter but it isn’t really spring.

Oh, mum I see it snowing,
What will my flower do?
He’ll be completely buried and by morning he’ll be through.
Not so fast my darling daughter,
He was made for snowy spring.

Oh mum the snow is melting and my
Snowdrop is still there.
In fact I think I see another here, and there and there.
Yes, they’re brave resilient flowers
For a cold New England spring.

Oh, mum, I will not wait so long,
It’s snowing and I’m bummed.
I don’t think this stupid spring
Will ever, ever come.
Not so fast my darling daughter
We don’t wilt before a storm.

But mum why do we live here?
I’m moving where it’s warm.
You can my darling daughter,
You can go when you are grown.
But for now you’re learning waiting--
Like I did when you were born.­