The Tree and Its Leaves

A tree, quite like the rest, it told The leaves of fading red to leave their branch and seek some tool or trick to cure the cold That surely soon would set. The leaves complied and tumbled down, determined to Do something for the tree. With open mouths They cried back loud: "Deceitful tree, why have You tricked us so?" The tree replied in haste, "I jest you not, the tools are there, just look Until you find. The leaves of red (now brown), They thought no more, and searched and did not find. With branches bare, the Tree Had found at last what it Had sought. It stretched its limbs, Relieved of weight, but died The day after the next. In death the leaves were shown the Truth-- That Trees are selfish things, but crafty too. It showed them what they feared the most, also Finding what it had wanted all along.