avatarAdelia Ritchie, PhD

Summary

The poem "They’re Just Leaves" is a tribute to Todd Ramsey, reflecting on the natural cycle of life and grief.

Abstract

"They’re Just Leaves" is a poignant poem that memorializes Todd Ramsey, who lived from 1950 to 2021. It uses the imagery of nature—lake grass, algae-covered stones, and floating leaves—to draw parallels between the changing seasons and the process of mourning. The poem conveys an initial emotional restraint, with the speaker's eyes remaining dry despite the signs of change. However, the realization that the friend had the will to decide his own time to pass allows the speaker to finally express their sorrow. The natural setting of Townsend, WI, captured in a photograph by the author, serves as a backdrop to the reflection on mortality and the acceptance of loss.

Opinions

  • The author, Adelia Ritchie, presents the concept of grief as a natural and inevitable process, akin to the changing of seasons.
  • There is a sense of respect for the autonomy of the departed, acknowledging that the decision to 'cross to the other side' was his own.
  • The poem suggests that the speaker's initial inability to grieve is due to the societal tendency to minimize loss by comparing it to mundane occurrences, like leaves falling.
  • The act of crying at the end signifies a breakthrough in the grieving process, indicating that it is only after accepting the reality of the loss that true mourning can begin.
  • The imagery of nature is used to provide a sense of continuity and comfort, suggesting that life and death are part of the same cycle.

They’re Just Leaves

A poem in memory of Todd Ramsey, 1950–2021

Townsend, WI, photo by author

Lake grass, algae-velveted stones, floating leaves, signs of a passing season. But no one grieves.

They’re just leaves.

I hear a sigh, an autumn cry, a breath of breeze stirs the trees, a cloud scuds by.

My eyes are dry.

All is still. He had the will, his to decide when to cross to the other side.

My friend just leaves.

Now I can cry.

— Adelia Ritchie,

Shadowgnosis

Poetry On Medium
Poetry
Life
Death
Memoria
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