Gratitude | Soul Magazine

Eulogy for a Red Maple Leaf

30-Day Gratitude Challenge

Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today to bid farewell to a dear friend, the fallen red maple leaf. This leaf lived a life many of us can only envy.

In the spring, it started as a mere bud, blending in with the green tapestry of the maple tree. As the summer sun-kissed its surface, it happily soaked up the waves of heat rising from the forest floor.

From the sunny days of summer to the crisp, cool embrace of fall, it danced in the breeze with grace and charm. Come autumn, it had one last role to play, transforming into a vibrant red diva, confidently basking in the spotlight. In a final performance it embarked on a slow, mesmerizing ballet, descending from the branches in a slow-motion pirouette, as if it had practiced the art of falling for centuries, spiraling down to the earth, leaving us in awe of its beauty.

While it may have been one leaf among many, it had a way of making us stop and appreciate the fleeting moments of autumn’s splendor. And for that, we say goodbye with gratitude and a touch of nostalgia. Rest in peace, our fallen red maple leaf. Your brief yet brilliant performance will not be forgotten.

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I want to thank Vinitha Dileep and the editors of Soul Magazine for providing the “30-Day Gratitude Challenge,” which prompted my whimsical eulogy in free verse. The response has been a wonderful exchange of gratitude among the writers. If you would like to take part in the challenge, it will be ongoing throughout November. Here are the guidelines:

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