The Last Leaf

I said you have every right to leave, but not easily.
Autumn is the fate of leaves.
Small leaves never wish
not to fall,
to hold on,
to face the merciless winter.
What every leaf wants, deep down,
is to be the last leaf —
the last leaf whose parting from the tree's trembling hands
keeps autumn waiting a few minutes longer
and makes it sick of the word "must".