Green Leaves

Wind pushes the dried and crumbling remains of spring into streets.
Leaves them on lawns and porches, driveways.
Sometimes you are born with more trees than the rest.
Sometimes you plant your own and love them, letting them grow
Pushing them toward the sky by will and sweat.
Then, years later, enjoy the sight of the dry leaves
Filling the empty spaces on the grass.
And the sudden realization that a lifetime was spent in the pursuit of
Dry leaves
Which are blown from the yard and down the street.

Marc Janssen has been writing poems since around 1980. His verse can be found scattered around the world in places like Pinyon, Slant, Cirque Journal, Off the Coast, Poetry Salzburg; also in his book November Reconsidered. Janssen coordinates the Salem Poetry Project and was a nominee for Oregon Poet Laureate.