SEASONS' ATTIRE

Nature is a dressing room
where trees change their attire.
Autumn enters to disrobe.
Her well-worn dress,
now a patchwork in shades of red, gold, orange and brown,
is one that's been around since Spring chose it
many months ago.
It had served her well but was wearing thin.
Temperatures now cooler, the winds had played hard
and wrestled from her limbs the weakened cloth
until she stood unclothed.

Her frame, previously well covered,
was now exposed,
and her imperfections, quite apparent.

Winter's chosen blanket of snow
fell softly over her limbs,
softening her features
and creating a beauty all its own.
Occasionally freezing rain gave her coat of ice
that glistened in the sun,
but often she braved the winter months in her black leotards.

Spring,
eager to show off her new growth,
stood erect and carried herself well as she emerged from the dressing room.
She delighted in modeling her new dresses,
accenting with splashes of color
the varied shades of green she'd chosen.
It seemed that she skipped and danced throughout her debut.

More mature, Summer's attire is made to cover more completely
and her branches stretch out and provide welcome shade,
space for new family homes, fruit and nuts.
She is known for her generosity,
for she shares freely with those in the neighborhood.
In the breezes, she murmurs contentedly with her rustling leafy gown.

Twila Charles Leichty
November 20, 2008