The Growing Tree

The leaves on the tree grow downward,
toward the dirt path and cobblestone patio,
its brighter green leaves marking how much time
has passed since I first came to this site
and would walk under the branch
without paying it much attention.

As weeks continued, the leaves would brush
my hair as I passed, and they continued to grow
until I had to duck around the lowest branches
to avoid a face full of new growth-green leaves.

As months passed, the leaves came to block
the trodden path and a new path emerged,
circling around the curtain of flora
as we all were forced to take notice.

Now, the fresh green leaves lie sideways
in the dirt, still attached to the branch,
but the branch is no longer attached to the tree
and we no longer pay attention to its growth.