Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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Leaf of Sunshine

The forest is calm,
only an occasional chirp of a bird,
breaks the silence,
the sun is buried in a blanket of clouds,
only a few golden rays escape,
just enough to penetrate the darkness,
cool wind rustles through the trees,
gently swaying their nimble branches,
so peaceful,
one single leaf spirals to the ground,
twirling, spinning,
now upon the brown fallen leaves,
lies one of a brilliant sun-yellow color,
with its bright green smudges,
splattered haphazardly across its surface,
a beautiful sight,
compared to the crumpled leaves surrounding it,
it seems like a precious gem,
it is a bit of sunshine,
on a crisp autumn day.

Leaf of Sunshine Laurel Gibson
Laurel Gibson, 12
Durham, New Hampshire