The Last Leaf

As autumn slips into winter, the last leaf clings to its branch, a tenacious spark of life, holding onto warmth as the cold encroaches.

Each flutter a sign of defiance, as the wind whispers its goodbye, while the tree stands bare, a silhouette against the fading light.

In its falling, a grace descends, a reminder of cycles that persist, as the earth holds its breath, a prelude to renewal waiting beneath.

• María Pizarro