Childhood
last week
she brought me a leaf
and said, “keep it forever …”
taped it to the wall
and it’s still green
but feels fragile
like a forgotten flower
flattened between the pages
of a novella
would have whirled
in the wind
had she not come along
and found it where it fell
then carefully she carried it
and placed it in my hands
a hand-picked gift
wrapped in innocence
and tied with timeless twine
TL