As Fall progresses, and we watch and wait with baited breath to see what rating on the scale this year’s display of colors will be, I always experience the November let down as whatever last bountiful beauty of leaf and foliage disappear from view, falling softly and gently, making no sound as they go, or wind-whipped and stripped early from their bower by the force of fall’s early fury and power. This year, I had an amazing experience of watching heavy snow fall on golden leaves, weighting branches almost to the ground; and for the first time I realized the wisdom of Mother Nature who bares our northern branches to sustain our trees through their winter.
My reflections from a journey through the woods last fall, and the journey through the fall season of my own life, bring us – human creatures – and our brother/sister trees into focus….
Bright colors,
Lost leaves…
Everything gives –
soft wonder perceives… 
Standing back for a moment to look
at which paths you recently took
brings a musing and wondering stare
at the choices that brought you there
Be awake, and very aware
as you tally your score with care
Did you leaf fall
and burst with color and dare
to live life with its charms and its calls?
At the end of the Fall
when your branches are bare
will they say what a
beautiful form
is left by the life you adorned?