A Solitary Wayward Leaf

A leaf in happy morning mood
kept active by a wilful gust
that saw it cartwheel quick, quick, slow.,
which knocked the winter rust off me.
My toes felt lifted, so inspired
I gathered pace and took a chance.
I chased it down a country lane
to join it in its crazy dance.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i love this...the willingness to run with abandon in life...to take risks. the wind being a whim...
and i found it interesting that in reading the first few lines i not only envisioned, but hoped for the ending...that the speaker would be dancing with the leaf...
what great partners they make.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jacob. Such fun to watch a scuttling leaf tumble down the lane. Even more fun joining in jts dance.

Chris

[Paris Hlad]

More than anything else about this wonderful poem, I like the image of a person dancing like a leaf - maybe even looking like a leaf!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Paris H. Pleased you enjoyed the read and thankful for your visit. All good wishes.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

This is so wonderful. Deceptively simple it flows around with zephyr gusts of it own. In and out and around. But then it reads so much more. Of many layers is this remarkable write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken for your very generous review. Pleased you enjoyed my poem. All good wishes.
read moreThank you Ken for your very generous review. Pleased you enjoyed my poem. All good wishes.

Chris

[SM Davis]

the imagery here is perfect. I can envision the character here dancing after a wayward and lofting leaf in the softly blowing wind only teasing to touch the ground before taking flight again. Just lovely.

[Chris Shaw]

Really appreciate you visiting my page. Thank you SM Davis. All good wishes.

Chris

[Eilis]

I love the simplicity of this moment, Chris. The only two things in existence in the frame are the woman and the leaf, and everything else takes a back seat.

It reminds me of the single-mindedness of young children who are not consumed by the myriad of things that can take up space in the mind. It’s just the imagination and the object that’s caught its fancy.

It’s a lovely way to start the day. Makes me feel inspired to get outdoors and find my own leaf. Or, perhaps a bundle of narcissus I can watch dance. Have already seen flowers blooming everywhere here. It seems so early.

A lovely poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Eilis. Enjoyed your thoughts very much. Lucky you if you have flowers blooming everywhere. We haven't seen the arrival of spring yet. Storms still around and flooding causing destruction. Daffs are only just starting to bud. All good wishes.

Chris

[Eilis]

We have flooding here, too, as it’s been raining for months almost daily. I think the rain is part of why we have such early blooms. Hope the storms pass you by soon and there is not too much damage, Chris. Take care there.

[Dave]

Oh to watch it blow, not knowing where it will go.
To be so light, to be so carefree, aah the life of a leaf for me.
Your spirit lifted soon to sing, the promise of on coming Spring.
To join you in your dance, a time of love, a time of romance.

This was so very nice.
Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

A light hearted dance with a leaf Dave. Yes sets the spirit free. So pleased you enjoyed this little chase down a country lane. All good wishes.

Chris

[Dave]

I did and thank you. Have a wonderful day.
I know we've been having unusually warm weather, but this morning I went out to get the paper in the driveway and there were at least a half dozen robins. I hope Mother Nature isn't playing a trick on them!
Take care - Dave

[Dave Brown]

Playful and carefree
I would like to run with you, away from turmoil and taxes

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Dave. I would be happy for your company. Remember I have monopoly money to help with your taxes :) Thank you for checking this one out.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

Well. considering my usual financial circumstances, I think I'd better take U up on that
UR2 generous

[Chris Shaw]

Ha ha. If it's not monopoly money, then I have plenty of buttons. Sadly the real stuff I need myself :)

[keith]

I can see the leaf twittering and fluttering about
reminds me of a video I saw of a plastic bag dancing in the wind
thanks for the thought provocation!

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for your visit. I too once watched a plastic bag tattered and torn caught on a tree branch, struggling to break free. I found it fascinating to watch. Appreciate your visit

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

ohhhhhhhhhh how cool Ms. Christine! how very cool and hippie of you ... lets dance indeed and chase the ends of rainbows (which i tried one sunny morn in Golden Gate Park) ;) many years ago ... i love your poem ... free spirits, wandering, adventuring and loving life ... this morning the wind is coming up from the south .. wet and warm .. Spring my dear! as one wayward leaf that clung so long finally casts itself to its wind ..
E.

[Chris Shaw]

So you have spring? No sign of that here. Terrible flooding especially in South Wales and Yorkshire. Devastation. Awful to see what people have lost. Happy to be a hippie Mr E even at my time of life. Yes, I like the idea of free spirits dancing. Happy also that you gave checked this bit of whimsy out. Good wishes winging there esybto you :)

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

yes .. i followed your troubles a bit ... it takes so terribly long to recover from flooding ... everything has to be redone .. dried out .. :((( yes ... tho not officially we have Spring ... daffodils first then our flowering pear trees as the forest takes on a green hue .. fascinating to behold .. so grateful i can spend my time just watching it unfold ;)

[Fay Slimm]

Lovely - - lovely to be right there with you in that leaf-kicking dance - one of my favouritist things has to be kicking about in leaves - - thanks for the memory Chris my friend.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Fay from a fellow leaf kicker. I appreciate your thoughts and your visit. So pleased you enjoyed my efforts.

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris... a lovely poem... as we are in the
midst of Winter... as leaves lay dormant to nourish the earth
and give new birth to Spring growth. I can just imagine one
solitary wayward Leaf... coaxing me to take a chance and
follow it down a country Lane. We have in our town... one
Cherry tree with pink blossoms in full bloom. We are still waiting
for our first real Snow that will at least cover the branches of
trees and roof tops. Your poem has me on my Toes like a
Prima Ballerina. truly, Pat. p.s. we live in Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.A.

[Chris Shaw]

You have given me some beautiful thoughts this morning Pat. Pink cherry blossom and snow. I have this lovely vision of snow flakes falling and petals drifting from the tree at the same time. Sadly we lost our cherry tree. How I miss that pink blossom. Thank you for your review. You akwats leave such thoughtful abd poetic responses and I look forward to receiving them. All good wishes to you.

Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Please forgive my typos. My phone screen is so small

[Patricia Wedel]

Hi Chris... our 'smart' phones cause most of our typos
so I understand... most of us realize this happens in this age of cyberspace. Yes, that is a beautiful picture of snow falling on pink cherry blossoms.
Keep warm. truly, Pat