The speaker wishes they could keep their loved one close at all times, and finds a way to say it through one image: a perfect green leaf, found deep in the woods and tucked into the back pocket of a favorite pair of jeans. The leaf is small, delicate and lucky, and it stands for everything good in the world. The date line under the title suggests it was written in 2013, though the poem itself never says why.
What comes through most is tenderness mixed with fear. The speaker imagines losing the leaf through a ripped stitch and can't picture finding another among the "carcasses of dead wishes" on the forest floor. That dark phrase makes the loss feel final. By the end, the mood settles into quiet devotion. The "absentminded touch" is a habit of checking the pocket, and the speaker admits it is done to be sure "you're still there" and "still mine." It's a love poem that is warm, a little anxious, and very personal.