Poems   Leaf   The last time I saw a leaf floating to earth, I was struck by the transience of life. And now, as the light dies, I realise how much like leaves we are; gathered together, sharing our warmth, jostled by the trials each day brings. And when one of us falls from the tree, all that remains is the space they left; the empty dwelling, forsaken possessions and for a while it seems time itself has stopped. But as I watched the leaf, I realised the battles with the wind had made it frail. When it left the branch it danced before my eyes, and the wind carried it up into the sky. And as I watched the leaf, I realised it was free.   About this poem   I wrote this poem spontaneously after 2 years of no poem writing. I wanted something to write in my friend Lizzy's blog as her granny had just died. I had actually been toying with the imagery of falling leaves for some time; I think this is a nice extended simile.