Day Before Autumn

This is the first draft of a poem I am currently revising. It was a blank verse exercise I wrote last fall. I failed at the assignment in many aspects, but I also feel that I accomplished something more valuable than perfect form.

I plucked a leaf out of the branch

and think how I have thieved its life.

Its goal to thrive, destroyed by me.

My gust of strength tore it down,

trampled now into the dirt. And I

apologize to the spring and summer

months of which I robbed a leaf,

a day. A season of life and sun

stolen by me. The wind of autumn

has begun a day to soon.