the ash seed

the wind was wild today
rocking the trees to and fro
blowing blossoms from red buds and crab apples
i saw a solitary ash seed caught
in an air current go whirligigging
across the bright blue sky —
it rose and fell, dipped and soared
spinning madly all the while
until it suddenly plummeted to the ground
and i lost it amid the thick green grass
who am i to bear witness to
such moments of small exquisite beauty?