Fall

The seeds find their way into cracks in the soil and rocks. They lie there in wait, soaking up the water and minerals in the soil and eventually the sunlight above ground. They do not know that around them on this hillside are thousands others of their kind or just similar enough. The seeds become larger peeking above the ground where they are able to absorb more of the sun. Over several years they reach heights towering above the other life among them.

They extend their reach with branches and from the branches, leaves filling with chemicals that make green, yellow, brown and reddish colors. Throughout the warm season, the green color is stronger and little is noticed of the yellow or red. The branches provide shade and shelter to its neighbors while giving the eye a sea of one color to take in.

The time of the sun becomes shorter, and the air cooler, the green in the leaves is destroyed. The yellow, brown, and red fill the eye that can behold this phenomenon. What was once a sea of solid green is now a mosaic of red, orange, brown and yellow. The eye is pleased and many travel to see this display, for there are few places on this earth where such can be seen. The color brings joy to many who enjoy this season. It becomes the back drop for young people racing through the woods; the medium for young children who collect the colored leaves to be pressed between wax paper and given as gifts; the medicine for the elder who must live for one more autumn simply to view the color.

The eyes can enjoy for only a short time, for soon, the leaves die and fall to the ground along with their seeds where they find their way into cracks in the soil and rocks and the cycle is renewed so that one day they may bring color to the hillside and joy to the eye.