Every Leaf Dies

I'm not sure why every leaf must die,

Falling as they do.

Their fragile stems let go one by one,

Releasing them down;

The ground is there to catch them, though,

Gently breaking the fall.

I'm not sure why every person must die,

Leaving as they do.

Their eyes close, their breathing stills...

Released from this world;

Who is there to catch me now, though,

Now that they are gone?

I'm not sure why it hurts so much,

To stand as I do,

Watching leaves fall to the ground,

One by one,

Around the gaping wound in the earth

Where a casket lies.

I'm not sure why there's such a beauty

In death,

Or how something tragic can give way

To something new.

Someone told me you can't experience joy

If you haven't pain.

I'm not sure why the trees keep growing

Leaves as they do,

Just for them to age and fall to the ground

Where they die.

Is this nature's way of staring a new,

Of moving on?

I'm not sure why the sun rises every morning,

Shining through clouds,

Never questioning that it is what it's supposed

To do?

Life doesn't always make sense, or seem fair,

But I'm not quitting.