I watched a leaf fall from the hackberry tree.
Not yet entirely yellowed,
still, it just let go and fell.
There was no graceful dance
on its way to earth,
just a swift plummet.

That’s what my heart does
when I think of the day ahead.
Celebrating a life that was vibrant,
not quite done.
Yet it was her time to fall,
back into the welcoming arms of Mother Earth.

Pandemic protocols kept us from our goodbyes face to face
making it feel unreal.
Hearts though, leap space and time,
walls and protocols
carrying our farewells.

I like to imagine that her leave-taking
was more graceful than the hackberry leaf,
that she danced her way
into the arms of eternity
with that twinkle in her eyes
and joy on her lips.

As is the way,
both leaf and human return to the Earth.
The eagle and I sit vigil,
while the tiny wren sings them home.