Oh to be an oak leaf
dancing on a November wind,
flying high toward the clouds,

then tumbling
gracefully down again
to do-si-do and cha-cha

with sister leaves,
furiously twirling together,
then slipping away,

landing quietly 
on a rooftop somewhere
before jumping up

for another round!
What joy--what freedom!
--after a lifetime

of clinging tightly to home,
to the safety of that
sturdy oak tree.