Monday, October 18, 2004

Reflecting on autumn and falling leaves

Leaf by leaf by leaf
they tumble and fall: all my haggard hurts.
like a cottonwood tree
ever so slowly letting go, so the heartache of my heart.

there goes a bit of sadness,
now a leaf of anger flies; then it's the dropping of self-pity.
the leaf of unforgiveness
takes forever to fall, almost as long as non-trusting.

leaf by leaf by leaf
they fall from my heart, like a tree in its own time.
old wounds don't heal quickly,
they drop in despairing slowness, never looking at the clock.

it seems a forever process,
this healing of the hurt, and I am none too patient.
but a quiet day finally comes
when the old tree with no leaves, is decidely ready for the new.

and in my waiting heart,
the branches with no leaves have just a hint of green.
--Joyce Rupp "The Star in My Heart"