POEM: Pre-Fall

Where are the dying leaves?
     stems tugging toward free
     twist-fluttering, eager--
Paternal bough half-aware,
     grip flexible just too firm.
           Not now. Not now.   
Where are the red leaves?
     brilliant yellow?
     where the gold?
Only the steady masses
     green, unhurried
     still summer-contented,
     crowd and hide the one-day bleak skeleton--
     block the view with too-persistent
Life.

(Written in Yosemite, October 2, 1983)

Notes
Title, Pre-Fall, is double entendre:
         --before summer
         --before death entered the world through sin.
Theme: Impatience
            --Mine, to see fall colors before they're ready
            --leaves', to rush to their death
            --mankind, to rush to destruction