BJZ Poems and Musings

Here in the upper Midwest, October is resplendent with its palette of orange, red, yellow and all combinations of these colors as our trees give their leaves back to the earth. The photo is one of our maple trees in front of our home. November is then time to clean up, mulch, and otherwise contend with our gift from the trees. Years ago (2003) I watched from a window at the University of Michigan Hospital as one of the groundskeepers did fall clean up. This little poem popped into my head.

The other happening this week was the leaf drop from our gingko tree that grows out of a space in our concrete patio. Gingko trees, ancient and with their fan-like leaves have always interested me. Particularly their habit of dropping all their leaves in the fall over a very short time – sometimes less than a day. I learned that this is called abscission. Cool word. The 2nd poem is my attempt to describe this event.

Groundskeeper

the groundskeeper
slender and flitty
amidst the bare bushes
rakes like a bird
the worn, wet leaves

Brian J. Zink 2003 Copyright rules apply

Gingko Drop

the leaves were not fully yellow yet
when the gingko on our patio
felt the frost on November 10th
and decided on abscission

our other trees may waffle
unable to make a decision
hoping the wind will detach their leaves
without this level of precision

gingko – no – everyone goes
like the downward dog in yoga;
blanketing the patio, picnic table
a complete shedding of her toga

she stands starkly now in the chill
fully committed to bareness,
unburdened, deferring to her roots,
to absorb the essential elements
for next year’s grand green suit

Brian J. Zink
11/16/2025