When the leaves fall

by Jon Jelfs

There is a chill in the air,
the first frost glistens on the grass,
the wind blows hard and the leaves begin to fall.

Fluttering, billowing through the air,
yellow, red, brown aerofoils of energy spent,
settling like snow along the pavements of tree-lined streets.

Riding the light,
bringing into our being oxygen and energy,
breathing for the planet and absorbing the toxins of the city.

Yet still their job is not done.
Falling then turning, re-turning,
to dark, brown, moist, matter-
decomposing, re-composing,  
offering the nutrients of themselves as love to the earth.

The trees and their leaves are witnesses
through many generations.
Witnesses to creation, to re-creation, to evolution,
to the coming and going of women and men,
to the living and dying and rising again.
Bearing witness to the fragile journey
towards righteousness, joy and peace:
the realm of which Jesus spoke and lived
and for which he himself fell,
like a leaf to give his life for all.