Plane trees

Plane trees

Throw their unwanted leaves

Playfully

Slapping people around the head

Using the wind as an intermediary

Taking advantage of its generosity

Of spirit,

Never at a loss

For a spot of fun

A moment of slapstick.

Humour is universal

Even when the joke is on you

It is more than a turn of phrase

To ruin a good story

With the truth

When the truth is

We would rather

Not know how magic works

We just admire the skill.

Leaves may not be sentient

But trees have roots in the community

Spread themselves wide

To welcome the day.

Consider me a convert

To the possibility

All things are connected

Even the chaos of windfall

Proves leaf blowers

Are as useless as a chocolate teapot

But they keep a guy

Employed.

As neverending as painting

The Forth Bridge

Or the Golden Gate

Do they repaint that one

Regularly?

So many lose their hearts

To the wild wind

For it not to be wise.

Too many people

Pretend they understand

The meaning of success

When it is more nuanced

Than a one-liner

And can take more than a moment

To interpret

Before the truth of it

Has come and gone.

I thought I was a pacifist

Until somebody battered

My brother

And threw a stone at me

Which cut my head

Perhaps if I had been an observer

I would have

Seen things differently.

It is all in the delivery,

The intention

Can be guessed

But is only truly known by

The protagonist.

And trees,

Even as they bow,

Never miss-time

A throwaway

Punchline.