Memory of Leaves

How is it that Winter can steal one’s memory of leaves?

It is a long period of time no doubt: cold, desolate, and

lonely. But not so long that memory should be affected 

to any great degree. Yet here I am looking out my back 

window seeing buds and green shoots proliferating on 

branches and still I can’t remember what leaves looked 

like before they fell to the ground to rot & die, forgotten.

***