Autumn

Walking among the trees is always a pleasure but at this time of year there's a frisson of excitement in the air; nature is busy, so much is changing. Each step taken becomes a snap and a crunch upon a carpet thick and springy with leaves. There are colours everywhere that defy the painter's palette and a magic in the air that siezes your legs, tugs at your feet so and before you know it you are dancing and kicking up leaves.

Today even with the sun shining, the air was cool pungent with the fecund odour of damp earth an leaves; life in the making. Golden shafts of sunlight filtered through the branches, shimmering emeralds, ochre, reds and every tincture of gold.

I pause and there’s another-worldly silence, all is hushed but for the murmur of a gentle soughing breeze. Then a whispering as leaves begin to fall. One here, another there and more, gliding, fluttering, dancing as graceful as butterflies; rustling, pattering until they are all around me in a cascade of colour singing a melody as sweet as gentle rain.

I love Autumn.