“Leaf”

The leaves fell brittle to the ground,
In red, orange, yellow, and brown,
And they lay scattered all around.

A single leaf burns deep maroon,
The only one the trees threw down,
A clot of blood, to light: immune.

In shadows: bright, but grey in light,
Marred by black smears of sun-lit spears.
Brightness dulled, as though in night.

The maroon leaf, draped in beauty
Unrivaled by all its brittle peers,
Also lives with blackened duty.