Skeleton Leaf

fragile you hang

of intricate lace mapping

outlining a draughtman’s beauty drawn

holding tick-past air casings ‘tween

gossamer-thin leaf veins

of frozen breath and a thousand shush-spit stories

tracing tacit tales untold

‘til turning colourless crumble dust at slightest stroke

the strength in your untouchable beauty

we cannot yet know sure

your flake rebirths

in glory

Kate Noble is creative writer, singer and disabled student mentor. Read more – waking the mind whilst touching the soul – in Vine Leaves Press, The Journal of Undiscovered Poets, Ballast Journal and Linked Verse from Laughing Ronin Press. She is 58 years of age and lives in northern England, UK.