While I was looking down
into water filled with leaves,
an old tree with hallowed eyes
opened wide its wooden mouth
and whispered gently—
Why are you so sad?
In cyclic transformations
nothing ever dies!
See the autumn leaves
shapeshifting into new life
rising from the ground.
Admittedly, every year when shorter days and cooler weather combine with falling leaves, I always feel a measure of sadness as time slips through my fingers. Gone is the comforting warmth of long summer days!
I know that the chill in autumn air is a harbinger of winter’s frozen breath—Brrrr! My old bones creak and groan at the thought of snow and ice. Give me a pillow and blanket, and kindly wake me up when it’s spring. 🙂
Before I Forget 
Very sweet.
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Thanks Katelon. Autumn always makes me a wee bit melancholy. I can feel time passing me by…
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Somehow fall is my spring. I feel more alive and energized in the fall. Perhaps it is from growing up in SO. AZ.
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The poem and pictures make feeling of watching movie! Thank you.
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Thanks so much for the compliment, Alexander!
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The coming of the cold does feel like a time marker as our years fly by. You said it all so well and your pictures are great.
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Thank you! Years ago, when I was in elementary school (1st grade), I remember spending my lunchtime outside….catching leaves as they fell and then laying them gently down on the ground.I was so afraid they were going to get hurt by such a long fall! I felt so sad for them. The leaves were being blown far away from home and I knew there was no way they could ever return.
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That’s such a sweet remembrance from your childhood. Thanks for sharing that.
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Mary – as always, well written and your photos so much a part of your story! You should publish your stories with “no books”. With a blanket curled up in the winter, your followers could enjoy more than one at a time, and recapture their favorite. You have a gift from God and thanks for sharing that special gift. Be blessed. An old neighbor!
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Hmmmm….who might this be? Pat?
Haven’t been driving West on 3 lately.
Send me an email: mpsspaid@cox.net
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That is simply beautiful…..
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Thanks Dor! But it can’t compare with the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley where you live.
I have only been to the Shenandoah Valley once (in October 2012). I was driving on the Skyline Drive, and stopping every once in a while to sit on the stone walls and take photos. That’s when I saw the mysterious witch of Shenandoah. It looked like she was chasing her cauldron through the trees. 🙂
https://storieswithnobooks.com/2012/10/20/mysterious-witch-of-shenandoah/
For whatever reason, I haven’t been back to the Shenandoah Valley since then. I need to return.
One visit really wasn’t enough!
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Lovely words and pictures. I’m with you and would sleep Winter away if I could! Beautiful dog. Is it an Aussie?
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You are right! The dog belongs to one of my friends–it is an Australian Shepherd.
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Beautiful poem and pictures of the autumn glory!
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And the days grew shorter and colder….
Now I am hiding beneath a blanket and saying not much!
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what a collection of pix and words Mary! BTW whatever happened to Joshua’s writings? I did visit his blog, his works are outstanding! but where is he? 😉
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I don’t know….Maybe he has not written anymore because he doesn’t think anyone found his webpage. I will let him know that a few people have left comments and he should take a look again.
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I love autumn colours and mushrooms! 🙂
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The colors of autumn are beautiful…I wish the colorful leaves could last a little longer!
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