Finally the ginkgoes

I wait for this every year. In college we had a ginkgo tree on the front lawn. It was the first time I noticed it lost all its leaves at once. I watch for ginkgoes every year, hoping to catch the "let loose" day. Most times I don't, but still, most times it's enough to walk out the door and find the ground fully covered in gold.

With the giving up

Comes the taking on.

The ginkgo outside the church

Finally let loose.

The ground is a sea of gold,

No matter the snow.

It is too late to rake.

The gold will remain

Under the snow

‘til spring.

It is the way

Of gingkoes

For those who see

Such things

And even for those

Who pay little attention,

It is still the way

Of gingkoes.

With the giving up

Comes the taking on

The watching for such things

As gingkoes loosing all their leaves

At once.