Poem: A Leaf Understands the Heart ( Yi Ye Zhi Xin)

I wake up in the morning of summer silence. The humans are quieter than usual, making me search for a source of sound. Human conversations are overrated, and I get into my cave to embrace the darkness and silence — oh, the silence provided my rhythmic heartbeats and music.

I go to the hinterlands of China to pick up one of my favorite instruments — the Guqin ( Guchen) titled Yu Ye Zhi Xin. The softness of the music brings a sort of slow, peace to the soul as a perfect complement to the summer silence.

I walk to the balcony with my headphones on and deeply breathe. The air is still, probably taking it easy on what will be a long, trying day. The blue, clear sky slowly illuminates with the hot summer rays; and then… a dry, orange papaya leaf floats in the still air on its final journey to the ground. Tomorrow, it will be swept away.

I turn around and reach my desk. Here comes… the Guqin music slowly melding into a poem.

Poem: The Leaf Understands The Heart

The Leaf Understands The Heart

The green leaf waves
In the brisk spring breeze
The vibrancy of youth
A dance of defiance

The green turns to gold
The richness of ripening
Life still so real in autumn
Dancing ballets in the breeze

In the stillness of summer
The strings of Guqin strain
Matching the melody of flutes
The golden leaf turns red

A journey begins anew
A final dance of destiny
The red leaf finally understands
That it was always the heart.

~Ashok Subramanian © 2024

PS: Read this poem with the music on. It has a profound effect.