Slow-Motion Leaf

This poem is featured in Geogia's Best Emerging Poets
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Two sided mirror is the window of contentment

To see, to admire, both views of misconduct

Unlike the police department’s biased vision

Thin veiled inquisition drapery hangs

Giving uninterrupted view of curiosity

Of paraders on one side preening

Seen, but can not see  

Standing captivated and bereft

Watching it through window of contentment

Two sided mirror of voyeurism

I see it; it sees me without pause

Gliding slowly, broad view fanning

The noon sun puts it through tanning

Natural x-ray machine thins veins

Through paper smeared margarine drapery

Through blinds purchased with irony

Projected clearly for admiration

Every vein, every sharp edge

Splayed through private slide

Splayed through private screen

This leaf, autumn’s paint brush

Meta-morphed into seven shades

One leaf, seven shades, nature painted

Most prominent of the four, autumn

Paints earth tones and greens

Gliding, unhurried, leisurely down

As if lowered by a spider’s web

As if lowered by a puppeteer’s deception

Slowly it spiraled, pirouetted, paused

Downward gracefully, a swan’s pose

It glided, pausing for my breath to catch

Leaving me changed, pensive

--My dream has loved paper so much for so long because it gave influence to the parched voice of a fashionista poet. Finding this outlet, that voice is now replete with expressive sound.