The leaves they fall downward to
	the ground, unable to rise upwards.
	Never will a leaf ascend
	its place fallen.
	Born up high, and up high
	it grows until its time of fall.
	I, too, have fallen,
	fallen from the hands of God or,
	was it simply from notions
	of my parents?
	Maybe, I have only fallen
	from my bed, or after I tripped
	on my shoe lace.
	But here I will stay. I know
	I can never ascend above
	here but only fall down.
	I cannot escape. Grounded
	forever for my lifetime.
	I have no wings,
	I am not phantom nor angel.
	Flesh and bone and conscience weigh heavy.
	But I need nothing to lift me higher.
	My ascension takes place grounded.
	Bury me below, bury me miles
	and I will hover in the atmosphere.
	I am helium, I am buoyancy
	I am the power of prayer though I speak to no one before I sleep.
	The sun shines down upon where I am.
Copyright 1997 John Feissel. All rights reserved.