2 FEBRUARY 1991, Page 26

Leaf-girl

Round and round the trampled ground between the flaming maple and the black walnut, and out across the nickel rink to the winter warming-hut, round, round with bounds and yells, skips and little rushes you chased October leaves.

Curtsy, shout, leap and spin, your pale face thin and hair haywire, the best red-gold: so you became the leaves you caught. And watching you I think I thought there's some movement, some pursuit best expressing each of us.

Kevin Crossley-Holland