Leavings

A leaf followed us down the street today. Outside was windless and nearly quiet; just the jangle of tags clinking against Tadaki’s sturdy black collar and the whiz of electricity lingering on the tracks. Then tick, tick, tick… and stop... as we look back at nothing but a sound. Tick, tick… again, and it sneaks up like elves tiptoeing from tree to tree. Pears are blooming, and dried oak leaves from the winter chill are blowing away. Today one tumbled after us--as though we were its last chance at life again. We stopped to wait for it, but a sudden breath…whewww… sent it tripping skyward. I wished we could fly.