Broken Dreams

Broken Dreams


A barren branch lies dark in silhouette
against the azured sky as life is shed.
The leaves, in autumn's colors, pirouette;
a final dance in gowns of gold and red.

A single verdant leaf still clings on high;
it seeks the warmth and light that it has known.
Ignoring music in the wind's soft sigh,
it clings to dreams that it holds, all alone.

Soon winter's palette paints the landscape white.
Yet, still it holds on tightly to its dreams
of gentle rains warmed by a nubile light.
Deep in its heart the memory still gleams.

It's brittleness, accosted by a gust,
pulls it from high. Its dreams are turned to dust.

An entry for the September round of "Verdant Poetry Contest" 
Prompt: Write a nature themed sonnet
Form: English Sonnet ~ A Shakespearean (English) sonnet has three quatrains and a couplet, and rhymes abab cdcd efef gg written in iambic pentameter.