Cherry Blossom

A chill in the air
And cherry blossom petals fall, shaken by the breeze
Falling where the currents take them
We too, from the moment of our conception, are falling
Our time in this physical world
Limited to this tiny distance
Between our beginning and end
At times, it seems there is no choice involved
We are born, we live and we die
Blown by the fates to destinies
We do not choose
Landing in places we did not intend
But looking close, each petal is unique
Beautiful in its own way
Even its gentle fluttering movement
Governed by the tenacity of its structure
Its hold on the branch
Its pigment different, even its shape is unique
So too our passage however inevitable between cradle and grave
Has the possibility of variation
We can drop unconscious into the void
Or make a tumbling halting descent
An epic and courageous dive
That speaks of choice, will and a desire to make a difference