Response to Chase

The little leaf bounces in front of me

Taunting me

With its little golden amber color

Leading me

Somewhere

Far away

Like an escape

Like magic

For a while it's just me

And the leaf

And my footsteps

And my breathing

And my need

To catch up

To be with that leaf

To hold it

To touch it

To feel

I run

And I run

And I run

After the leaf

The beautiful escape to another world

In my head

Heart pounding

Blood flowing

Thoughts disappearing like fading rays of sunlight

It narrows down to the leaf

That golden amber leaf

And my sneakers

And my mind

And my heart

And it's just a leaf

I know

It's

              Not

                                   Important

But how do I explain

That this leaf

Means everything?

How do I tell you

That this is something I haven't felt before

That it may be silly

That it's just a small glimpse of time

Of life

Of love

But I need that leaf

I need to run

With the wind

Away from my thoughts

To another world

So I can catch up

And I can feel its soft texture

And have that golden amber splotch

Like melted sunlight

Like perfect imperfection

Like everything I need

Right in the palm of my hand.