Leaves in the fall

To hear the sound of nature, I must be out in nature. I can never imagine it nearly as good as it really is. I am always surprised and happy at what I will see when I place myself in the woods. For me, every time I go it is different, even though it may be the very same place. One time it may be the way the sunlight is striking a leaf casting a glow so bright that the leaf appears to be on fire. Next, it is a barren tree with nought a leaf to cover its nakedness. I can almost sense the tree saying something like, “excuse me for my appearance, and just come back in the spring.” My favorite though, is when I come across a cavern like part of the road or trail with the trees arching over the roadway, straining to reach the far side. The rich damp smell of the earth fills my nostrils and I strain my ears to hear the sound of the …………. Silence.

Ahh, it is a golden sound, a sound to be treasured, a fleeting sound in today’s world. But, the sound of silence is really only there if I don’t listen closely enough. When I do, I hear the wind rustling through the tree tops, making a swishing sound out of the branches and leaves. For the leaves it is a losing battle, as this is the time of year when the trees strain to conserve their energy and cut off the life-giving sap to the leaves. Each individual leaf must pay the price as the wind slips through the branches and the leaves give their last gasp releasing their hold on the life-sustaining branch. Some leafs spiral down in a graceful manner much like a parachutist making their way to earth. Others go into a tight spiraling descent as they crash into the ground. Others, hold on to their life as long as they can and then make a graceful descent to land peacefully on the fallen brethren that have gone on before, almost as if not wanting to wake them up from their peaceful slumber. All though, catch a fleeting reflection of the sun as they fall and so their colors of yellow, red, and orange are made manifest one last time as they give the one last gift that they are able, the beautiful sight of leaves in the fall.