September has surrendered to November;
The once glorious, bright autumn leaves
Have fallen,

Decaying and becoming nourishment
For the rebirth of life next spring,

So the cycle of life can continue,
With the sweet anticipation
Of the new life it will bring.

But on this late, gray
November day,
A lone leaf dangles
From an oak branch—

Struggling to survive,
Refusing to surrender
To winter's tide.

The vicious wind's
Unrelenting siege
Has not broken this leaf's resolve
To survive.

But finally
It relinquishes its grip
And tumbles to the ground.

But its defiance went not unnoticed,

For I picked up that leaf
And gave it a home—

A place of honor
Between the pages
Of a history book titled,

"The Great Warriors of History."

How I wish
I had its courage and audacity.

For we all can learn
And take inspiration
From nature's
Most simple and delicate
Creations.

A lesson
I'll never forget.









© 2026
Arthur E. Knowles.
All Rights Reserved.