I’m the last leaf in the tree
why was I chosen to be alone
where’s the joy
in mornings getting colder and darker
or in robin’s songs
getting fainter and fainter
That I’m a survivor
means nothing
when each breath
only delays the inevitable
You may call me weird but when I read about survivalists, I often ask “In the event of apocalypse, what’s the point of surviving? There is beauty in going with the majority of humanity. It’s a little selfish, but the latter spares one the pain of losing everybody and dealing with a world that is markedly different from the one that was destroyed.”
you pose a deep question in those beautifully woven words. Surely survivors live on precisely to carry the torch and tell the tale. From one comes many futures.
I’ve wondered when reading some of the dystopian books if I have that much desire to live or would I just take the death pill (like in Neville Shute’s On the Beach)
I read this literally (with the voice of a personified leaf)….beautiful. As a metaphor, it resonates strongly, being from a very small family..it is hard to watch the inevitable, “leaf by leaf” disappear.
Haunting yet delicate shot of the lone leaf. It is probably very happy to still be up there and it is taking in the beauty of the world. Sometimes staying strong is a hard thing, but it can also be rewarding 😊 Lovely shot, lovely poem. Amazing writing and photography as always.
I’ve seen this so often among the elderly as, little by little, they lose their loved ones. This is a metaphor I used to use with survivors when I was a nurse in hospice. Lovely, tender write.
Thus fall indeed, some trees amazingly keep their leaves year long though whew
Stubborness in defying the inevitable.
you pose a deep question in those beautifully woven words. Surely survivors live on precisely to carry the torch and tell the tale. From one comes many futures.
I’ve wondered when reading some of the dystopian books if I have that much desire to live or would I just take the death pill (like in Neville Shute’s On the Beach)
Same here. I have not read the book you named but I read Maze Runner and it was pretty depressing.
I’d like to think I’m a survivor and could make something good od a new world or, a new season. I love this poem
Thanks, Toni. 🙂 Yours is a selfless perspective and highlights the gift part of being the survivor.
Powerful metaphor.
Thanks, Paul.
I like the stance of the last leaf, fighting to live until the end ~ A good metaphor on life Imelda ~
Thanks, Grace.
I have often thought the same… but I guess that you never really know if you’re the last… somewhere there might be someone else surviving.
True and there will certainly be joy in finding the others. I think.
The last leaf must be lonely.
I read this literally (with the voice of a personified leaf)….beautiful. As a metaphor, it resonates strongly, being from a very small family..it is hard to watch the inevitable, “leaf by leaf” disappear.
Haunting yet delicate shot of the lone leaf. It is probably very happy to still be up there and it is taking in the beauty of the world. Sometimes staying strong is a hard thing, but it can also be rewarding 😊 Lovely shot, lovely poem. Amazing writing and photography as always.
I think it is our natural instinct to try and survive. Interesting thought to ponder for the evening.
I’ve seen this so often among the elderly as, little by little, they lose their loved ones. This is a metaphor I used to use with survivors when I was a nurse in hospice. Lovely, tender write.
Thank you, Victoria.
I agree. Being the last leaf could be very lonely.
I absolutely love this!! Worth a countless readings ❤️
Thanks, Sanaa. 🙂
Oh dear – sad.