Cottonwood Leaf

Cottonwood leaf, fallen, lying in the stream as if waiting, still summer, though September, the season of seeded sage, broomweed and asters, and I am waiting too, not waiting for anything in particular, just paused, later sunflowers shine in the setting sun, and for some reason they bring to my mind the idea of hope as the day is ending, but the trouble I have with hope, is that it is needed at all