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Sunday, October 25, 2020

The Wind Wags Its Many Tails

There were any number of trees with gorgeous Autumn leaves in the neighborhood two weeks ago - like this one near Union County's Freedom Rock. But the wind has been having its way with them and they are nearly bare now. As with all of life, we must enjoy it while we can.


The tree that has held my attention recently is this one on the far side of the hill. Before this fall, I hadn't noticed it at all.


It is those tippy top branches with their smattering of leaves. How are they holding on? Why are they holding on? Every morning, as the light comes up, I glance out the window -- still there.              

I am intrigued.


Song for Autumn 

      By Mary Oliver


Don't you imagine the leaves dream now

     how comfortable it will be to touch

the earth instead of the

     nothingness of the air and the endless

freshets of wind? And don't you think

     the trees, especially those with

mossy hollows, are beginning to look for


the birds that will come -- six, a dozen -- to sleep

     inside their bodies? And don't you hear

the goldenrod whispering goodbye,

     the everlasting being crowned with the first 

tuffets of snow? The pond 

     stiffens and the white field over which

the fox runs so quickly brings out

     its long blue shadows. The wind wags

its many tails. And in the evening

     the piled firewood shifts a little,

longing to be on its way.


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