A Prayer in the Leaves

I tally my days,
a quiet inventory—
wins and losses
etched upon a fragile card.
Today, a single W
outshines the L,
and tomorrow dawns,
a tender promise,
small at times,
yet woven with hope nonetheless.

I sought You today,
in the shadow of my helplessness,
in the fleeting breath of praise.
I called to You
when strength faltered,
when weakness bowed me low,
in humility’s soft cradle,
in honor’s fleeting glow.
I needed You—
I called,
I waited,
then turned away,
not because You were absent,
but because my eyes,
my ears,
my heart
could not yet perceive
Your nearness.

The day presses on,
unyielding,
toiling into dusk,
then breaking into dawn again.
It waits for no one,
sweeps forward,
relentless,
alive.
I walk to my door,
check the empty mail,
seal it shut,
and glance once more
beyond the frame.

And there, I feel You—
a single leaf,
adrift in the air,
dancing,
hovering longer
than gravity should allow.
It drifts toward the earth,
then rises,
soars against the wind—
a quiet defiance,
a tender sign.
I know it’s You.
Don’t ask me how—
I simply know.
And the weight of this dismal day
lifts,
light as a feather,
light as that leaf—
once dead,
now unbound,
sailing skyward,
alive,
alive,
alive.

It’s Your still, small voice,
the whisper that roars
above the world’s clamor,
above its shouts
that seek to drown me.
In the silence,
You call:
“Be still,
and know that I am.”
And so I pause,
and in that quiet,
I find the day’s end—
not an end at all,
but a beginning,
where You are.


8 responses to “A Prayer in the Leaves”

  1. “I sought You today,
    in the shadow of my helplessness,
    in the fleeting breath of praise.”

    Just one of the many gems in this mesmerising piece.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fully agreed🙌🏻

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Thank you

      Like

  2. This piece carries such a deep and quiet strength. The imagery of the leaf defying gravity is truly moving. Absolutely breathtaking writing!

    Like

    1. thank you.

      Like

  3. And there, I feel You—
    a single leaf,
    adrift in the air,
    dancing,
    hovering longer
    than gravity should allow.🙏🏻❤️‍🔥The entire poem is a work of art. Bravo

    Liked by 1 person

  4. This week marked the 23rd year after my father’s sudden passing.

    My son has his name, which serves of a daily reminder of his legacy of kindness. In addition,
    I see so many glimpses of him, moments much like those you mention in this piece.

    I am a heathen 98% of the time. But these small reminders of my father give me some hope I might see him again.

    Thank you for posting.

    Like

    1. Thank you for sharing such a tender piece of your story. Twenty-three years is a long time to carry both the weight and the warmth of your father’s memory, and it’s beautiful that your son bears his name—a living thread of his kindness woven into your days. I’m deeply touched that my poem resonated with those glimpses you see of him. It’s amazing how these small, fleeting moments can feel so profound, like whispers of something bigger.
      I hear you on feeling like a “heathen 98% of the time”—life has a way of pulling us through all sorts of places, doesn’t it? Yet those glimmers of hope, the ones that sneak in through the cracks, can be so powerful. I’m glad this piece offered a little light for you, a quiet space to feel that connection to your father. Thank you again for your words—they mean more than I can say.

      Liked by 1 person

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