A Cherita

A leaf

Engine of photosynthesis
that powers a tree

Turning red in Autumn
filled with anti-freeze
the tree sucks back before the leaf falls

Plucked before this happens
the tree would die
in Winter frost

That is the science
of Fall colour

But not the beauty…

© Andrew Wilson, 2023

Over at dVerse Poets Pub,  Laura Bloomsbury in Meeting the Bar: Critique and Craft challenges us to Cherish the Cherita…

12 thoughts on “A Cherita

  • December 1, 2023 at 8:26 am
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    Fascinating and extremely informative Andrew, nothing I knew before. Excellent piece.

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  • December 1, 2023 at 9:40 am
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    A wonderful mix of nature and science, Andrew. I love that you focused on a single leaf.

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  • December 1, 2023 at 12:07 pm
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    I love the philosophical twist at the end, Andrew! Well written, good sir 🙂

    ~David

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  • December 1, 2023 at 2:24 pm
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    A death like the one of the leaf is a matter of beauty.

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  • December 1, 2023 at 4:58 pm
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    sometimes, i think science is beautiful (but i can be a bit of a nerd!). — i enjoyed your cherita. thanks you for sharing!

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    • December 2, 2023 at 6:22 am
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      Thank you Sarah! My mind has been exercised so much by the awfulness of human affairs, I felt the need to write something about nature again…

      Reply
  • December 2, 2023 at 5:04 pm
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    Appreciate the science side, and even more, the understated beauty of a leaf & tree.

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  • December 2, 2023 at 7:28 pm
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    Dear Professor Wilson: Please consider admitting me to next semester’s class. Thank you.
    PS love your cherita.

    Reply

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