Exultation and Imitation

Gingko Outside My Front Door

Being the oldest
  of its kind –

It is the gingko's

Solemn duty

To speak

On behalf of all trees.

It does this

By waiting

And by holding

Until kindred trees

Have given their color

And dropped their leaves.

Then, having distilled

  a season of sunlight,

And having bided its time, –

Almost overnight, –

The gingko's

Fan-shaped leaves

Take on the color

  of the sun

So that

The waning days

  of autumn color

Are a yellow exultation;

When

  in a final act

  of imitation

The ginkgo

Drops  leaves

  to the earth

  in a rush –

Like sunlight

  radiating across

  the cosmos

To puddle

  On a barren planet.