The First Red Leaf

The first red leaf greeted me this morning

Among the dull colors of the other fallen leaves

It’s redness smiled a reminder of time passing

A reminder of cycles of birth and death

Of leaves separating from the tree

As the body separates from the soul

We stand and watch the leaves fall

As we watch our own body change

Life within life is the only life that matters

The red leaf kissed the earth

And we thanked her for it.