Freedom

I watched a leaf
confined to its tree
take off, and glide
landing on soft dirt

I saw it land among other plants
and watched it endure torment
the weather, children, animals
yet it kept up its will in spite of all this

And then I saw the wind lift up this poor leaf
causing it to drift across the trees
and land in front of a man
who seemed weary from travel

The man told me his story
of how he was confined to his everyday life
and how he took off, heading towards the forest
hoping to make a new life on new land
and then -
I understood why I had to follow this leaf