A Road, a Hand, and a Leaf

A road is not only a road,

a hand is not only a hand,

and a leaf is not only a leaf.

Together, they tell the story of life.

One carries us forward,

another shapes who we become,

and the last teaches us

the fragile wisdom for living.

The road is our journey,

slowly taking shape,

like a path pressed

by passing footsteps—

the way a hand

shapes the object it holds.

And the leaf—

a delicate witness to our days—

unfolds in its season

and withers in its time,

just as our own lives do,

as we follow the road

toward our final destination.