Did they not start out
As each the same?
All glorious, bright;
With such vivid green!
~
But the clouds came;
The Sun obscured.
Earth moved away
Toward Winter's curve.
~
Some dwelt high
Enough to feel the Sun.
But their shadows wide
All else darkened.
~
All through Winter's siege
They suffered.
Brown became the
Ones were covered.
~
Those atop yelled
To those down below,
"See our shades of gold,
red, and purple!
~
"And, too, your browns,
Tans, whites, and grays!"
One heard the sounds
And said to they,
~
"I see your shades, all!
But Winter Cold does not!
Even purple leaves must fall,
Together with those that they blocked!"
~
Winter progressed
In deadly silence.
The trees undressed;
The leaves fell dying.
~
At last, of all,
Were only left
One leaf Royal
With brownèd pest.
~
His time had come,
The poor brownèd leaf.
He fell down from
His lil' humble seat.
~
The Royal laughed;
Cried from his throne,
"See, I am left,
But I alone!
~
"Look at me and see!
I will make it!
The Winter's siege
By me's not fearèd!"
~
The brownèd leaf
Just shook his head.
"Oh, you will see,"
The brown leaf said.
~
"You can only stall!
It's not your choice to make!
Too, the Royal leaf must fall!
Even the Royal leaf must break!"
~
The brownèd leaf
Did then hit the ground;
Tramped under feet,
Passed without a sound.
~
Royal did hang
With all his might,
But Winter's day
Turned Winter's night.
~
"Oh, hold on, hold on!
I'll show them all!"
The Royal fought on;
He would not fall!
~
But came strong winds
That hit him hard.
They froze his hands;
They froze his heart.
~
"I was over all!"
The Royal cried.
"Must even I fall?
Must even I?"
~
The Royal choked;
Let out a tear,
Then he let go,
Last of them here.
~
"My glory they saw,
But it was all for naught.
For even... Even I fall;
Now I lay with those who I mocked."
~
Even the Royal leaf must fall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Original by Mr. Pilcrow.
This whole narrative came to my mind when I was walking in the park. I saw the leaves on the ground: a tangled mess of ugly browns and beautiful reds and purplishes; that one phrase, "Even the Royal leaf must fall." came to my mind, and the rest followed. Hope you like it.