The Last Leaf
by Cynthia Villafranca
I wondered how my Lolo knew
that the old siniguelas tree,
behind the house,
would bid goodbye to its last leaf
this afternoon.
Did the birds whisper it to him?
Or did he hear it
float and flit to the ground
as the wind danced by.
I asked him how he could have known
But he only smiled and said
"You'll know in time."
As I gazed at the spreading branches
emptied of leaves
I hoped that I could be as wise as him
so I could tell him why
the last leaf was red.
