Just Leaves, Blowing in the Wind

As the autumn grows crimson,
And the leaves fade from green
They fall down in bunches,
Cast over them, a sparkling sheen

Tumbling, falling, plummeting toward the ground,
In terror, their end might be near
But in the last seconds, they take flight in the breeze,
Wonder seizing their fear

They scatter along, floating up and down,
Wandering aimlessly through roadways of air
Picking up speed and darting along
Shining, beautiful and fair

But they are only allowed to follow the wind,
They are chained to wherever it takes them
No choice, they just ride, through the tunnels of fate,
Told what to do, trapped in the trend

Battered and broken, surviving through life,
Their ride started out lovely, but then went askew
It was all meant to be, destiny had been chosen
Their freedom no longer could be true

It all seemed so perfect when the world was anew,
Frolicking without any thought
But life turns around in the bitter last moments
Only the its end is lived in distraught

Nothing seemed right, none of it was
There is always a finish to what has begun
They wish for death to sweep them away,
To fulfill what was always to come

But longings are ignored,
More treachery is in store
No one listens to the pleading
To break free; oh, they implore

And when their wish is given, they crumble into bits
Satan’s flames are their true savior
Life’s sufferings are no longer,
And its tricks banished forever

I know this to be true--
This is the evidence I find--
Everything is the same,
And we are all just leaves, blowing in the wind