we admire
the ephemeral glory of
autumn leaves
before they fall
and even when they fall
we admire
winter's leafless trees
for their artistic shapes
and we take the opportunity
to admire a sky
through the silhouette
of leafless branches
and then there is spring
leafy new growth
enhancing blossoms
a banquet of exciting beauty
but summer leaves
are silent
in the world of words
just a backstage reminder
that bunches of leaves
on big trees
cast shadows
welcome relief from
a burning summer sun
we really know little of
summer leaves
the eucalypt leaf
can hang like a pendulum
creating a soothing
hushed orchestra
when a summer breeze drops by
the eucalypt leaf is
the diet of choice for
a hungry koala
however
visual beauty
seems elusive
these leaves all seem dry washed in
an olive green
sameness
but
look again
the summer leaf
actually
can adopt
many faces
only some eucalyptus leaves hang like pendulums
often only the newest ones
on the end of twigs
but of course
there are exceptions
deeper into the tree
rogue young and mature eucalypt leaves
teamed on a single branch
clearly are absorbed
in their very own
unique
summer dance
a pose is frozen
till the summer breeze
ignites
their special summer dance
on a crowded dance floor
of jostling identities
and that applies to the eucalypt trees
other summer leaves
embrace
their own story
indeed
summer leaves
adopt
many faces
but their strength is their role model resilience
especially the eucalypt leaf
it weathers all seasons
and no season tells the summer leaf when to fall
the summer leaf falls
when it needs to fall
making room for new life
