Home » Poems » Suzette Richards » A Leaf in the Woods

Notes About The Poem

Scape can be a noun meaning a leafless stalk, a stem like part, or a scene or view, or an archaic verb meaning escape. – Collins Dictionary

The volta is not only signalled by the word 'when', but by the discordance: 'through ignorance – eventually hound' (ig-no-rance & e-ven-tu-al-ly)—where the layered stresses resist mechanical regularity and sharpen the expressive effect.
The final couplet holds out an olive branch of hope.
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Thank you for reading my work.
Su


Poetic device: PERSONIFICATION

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N/A in Craig Cornish's Shakespearian sonnet contest - Aug/Sept 2026.

There is so much AI-generated poetry floating around that people cannot see the wood for the trees. This poem was 100% human written. Grammar and spelling checked by Grammarly.com (assisted, as always).

A Leaf in the Woods

Upon a forest floor where many lie 
and breezes stir, the upper branches bent 
to meet the final breath of shrivelled sigh,
a leaf would cling to heaven’s tears when sent. 
Its youthful lustre now recalled through tales
as varied as seasons – verdant meadow 
below the clouds which often yield to gales
then scud along periphery of show.
When thermal blast from forest fires above
an ocean scape of waves competing in sound
with rumbling progress fits the Man like glove
through ignorance – eventually hound.
   A leaf in woods that’s silent, is the Hope
   we need to cling to – shadows rest on slope.

fireintrospectionmetaphornaturesonnet

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Ghairo Daniels

August 30, 2026 at 12:56 AM

Lovely cadence & imagery > so beautiful it reminded me of Robert Frost. Best poem I’ve read for a while here on this site. I enjoyed how you depicted both forest and ocean, so the scape is sweeping yet concisely, gently articulated. The parallels between the leaf’s lifespan & dependence on “heaven’s tears” with human vulnerability shines through clearly. Excellent final couplet - though I personally understand Hope to be an egoic created phenomenon based on preconceived human wants/longings😊. Well done, Su. Respects !

Suzette Richards

August 30, 2026 at 2:37 AM

Thank you for reading and your indepth appraisal, Ghairo. I find it interesting that hope could mean more than one thing to different people.

Len Gasun

August 29, 2026 at 6:50 AM

Superb sonnet my dear poet friend, Su. Love this a lot, the end lines are inspiring. Thanks for sharing dear and also thanks for my placement in your contest. Blessings and my best winning wishes in this contest. Hugs

Suzette Richards

August 30, 2026 at 2:35 AM

Thanks 😊

Andrea Dietrich

August 28, 2026 at 7:41 PM

Looks like I saw this one before. It's still looking great. Hope you get a placement.

Suzette Richards

September 11, 2026 at 3:49 AM

Well, Craig thought otherwise - no problem 😎

Timothy Ray

August 6, 2026 at 6:24 PM

When I think of sonnets, I always find such endearments with Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and that bestows upon those who can do them my reverence because I cannot write them. Nor can I critique them as beautifully as Andrea Dietrich does, so I will refrain and say I truly enjoyed the beauty within and the aura it left me with. Thank you

Suzette Richards

August 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM

That my sonnet has stirred you, is high praise indeed. Thank you, Timothy

Andrea Dietrich

August 4, 2026 at 11:01 PM

Very very nicely done. Effective use of metaphors, imagery and good sonnet meter make this an excellent entry to the contest 🌹

Suzette Richards

August 4, 2026 at 11:31 PM

Thanks, Andrea. Only for Craig will I bust my brain and write an iambic pentameter sonnet.

David Crandall

August 4, 2026 at 8:06 PM

That's so pretty! I guess that's what a sonnet's supposed to sound like!

Suzette Richards

August 4, 2026 at 10:38 PM

Thank you, David. It is kind of you to say so.

JC Brul

August 2, 2026 at 9:59 PM

This is beautiful! I love the last couplet. "A leaf in woods that’s silent, is the Hope we need to cling to – shadows rest on slope." Inspirational. I love Shakespearean sonnet, also^___^ JCB

Suzette Richards

August 2, 2026 at 10:44 PM

Thank you for reading and kind comment, JCB

Paige Hind

July 31, 2026 at 6:27 PM

beautiful, Suzette! a fav

Suzette Richards

August 1, 2026 at 12:02 AM

Thanks, Paige. After trying my hand at 28 different types of recognised sonnet forms, the Shakespearian sonnet is still my favourite after all these years.

A Leaf in the Woods

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