Drifting Leaves

One day I sat beside a stream And watched the waters flow, And there I saw a leaf fall down Onto the brook below. I followed as it swam along; At first it went quite slow, But then the current caught it and The wind started to blow. It danced along the water’s edge In smooth and dizzy swirls, Then strayed into the middle of The stream with carefree twirls. At times it drifted aimlessly And hit a rock or stone, But then at times it seemed to know Exactly where to go. I watched the leaf as it was pulled Underneath the surface, I thought it lost but it came up In a different place. And when the stream became a lake The leaf kept floating on; It joined more leaves that to the lake Had earlier been drawn. I followed it until I could Not follow anymore, And there I stopped to watch the leaf Make for the distant shore. It ambled on among its friends, Away to the unknown, And as I looked upon it then, I felt strangely alone. That day I climbed atop a hill, Saw people passing by; It made me think of drifting leaves Beneath the trees and sky. I thought of all the struggles that People, like leaves, must face, For life, at times, has rocky shores And flows at a fast pace. But then I realized it’s best To let life take you away. For once you’re past those rocky spots You’ll reach that lake someday.