The Last Leaf

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The last leaf

rides

the curlicue current

wickedly defying gravity


an unsupervised


what the hell kid


free at last


as zig-zagging squirrels


and merry prankster dogs 


suddenly stop 


and hold their breath


like big top neck craners


as the leaf


refusing to pull the parachute cord


dares to die


like Kerouac 


in his hellbound ‘49 Hudson.


For the grand finale


the leaf


plummets


tumbling


and 


somersaulting


like Monk notes


played in a seedy swan dive


until  it makes touchdown


landing 


on the lunar surface of old friends


who found 


their final resting place


amongst the reckless litter 


and deadbeat acorns


of this heaven on earth.




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