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?
Mary Oliver, “Song for Autumn”
After this week’s rainy start, autumn graced us with sunny skies and cooler temperatures. Those of us who dwell in the Deep South appreciate the respite and the acknowledgment of the season, but we know in a matter of days—or even hours—we will be back to mid-summer heat and another season of storms.
I take three or four 5-15 minute walks throughout the workday. I walk to ruminate, to reset, and [especially] to move my body—which suffered much during the year and a half of Zoom. Lately, during my walks, I’ve been noting the subtle but sure transformation of the trees—the changing colors creeping into the dogwoods and maples, the thinning canopy of the black walnut and the oaks.
Today’s tree comes from one of my just-before-autumn walks. It’s not the most striking tree on campus, but there is something arresting in its stance against the cloud-filled sky.
We are some weeks away from the fullness of the season. We will blink one morning and find everything bursting in autumn glory and blink again and find only the bare structure of trees. This tree represents the in-between, a tree dreaming. For once, I am appreciating the slow change, and not rushing toward the glory.
I am joining Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.
Pics and Posts 
Its great to be able to observe the trees and plants around us.. a reminder that season change affects all living beings..
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Yes…and Autumn gives us such a spectacular display to observe!
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Great tree. It clearly has its own story to tell.
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Thanks!
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Wonderful words. 🙂
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…because Autumn deserves wonderful words. 😉
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I love the trees in the fall with the bright colors
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Me too–as you well know!
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Beautiful photo and description of what is yet to come. In the black and white image you took, in a way, it is like you are sharing that anticipation of the striking brightness of what is yet to come. Side by side the two shots will look amazing. I can’t wait to see what Autumn’s trees have to share with us this year. It’s never the same, every year the art these trees create for us always amazes me.
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You are so right. It’s never the same. I’m watching the trees change day by day and it is certainly not the same as last year. Some trees are already bare…it’s like they missed the “colors” phase. Thank you for reading and enjoying the post.
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I absolutely love that shot! It seems to me the most gorgeous tree on your campus or one of the most beautiful ones, Chandra. Thank you for sharing. Also, I notice the changes too. Most days, it’s like a subtle thing but it’s still visible.
Looking forward to seeing you back tomorrow.
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It’s funny how every tree seems like the most striking at the moment. LOL! There’s this one tree I pass every day on my walk and I cannot seem to capture its essence. It is so very tall and beautiful!
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A beautiful tree and poem! I think I will follow your example and savor the slow transition to autumn.
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Thank you, JoAnna. Forgive me for not dropping by lately. I am so discombobulated these days. I am soooo behind on my blog reading. Yes, enjoy the slow transition!
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No worries. I understand about getting behind on blog reading. Life outside of blogging is important too. Take care of you!
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This picture of that tree was meant to be in black-n-white. It does look striking.
🙂
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Thank you! You are too kind!
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