A Walk in the Woods

by earthriderjudyberman In Nature, Outdoors 22 Comments

By Judy Berman

Autumn leaves litter the rich,
dark-brown dirt paths.
Maple leaves fall lazily
to the forest floor.


The crisp, cool autumn air
clears my foggy brain and
dying leaves cruelly remind me
winter’s on its way.

A hollow plunk resonates
each time our feet fall
on the wooden planks
stretched over the swamp.

Then, we noisily rustle
thru the dead leaves
Canada geese quietly paddle
across the lake.

Occasionally, one lets out
a solitary honk.
When a few more join in,
they sound like a pack
of noisy dogs chasing
down their quarry.

The sound builds to a
full chorus.
They churn up the water,
creating waves of white foam
as they fly out over the lake.

At first, their exodus is
disorganized.

Then, as if they’d changed
their minds,
The geese make a wide arc
over the lake
and return in a “V” formation.

Sadly, the ripples in the water
slip away as do they,
and the lake is still again
as it prepares for a long winter nap.

I stay as long as there is light
and, then, reluctantly return home.

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This is a tribute to one of our favorite places – Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, N.Y. – during one of our favorite times of the year. It’s hard to beat autumn in Central New York.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Judy Berman and earthrider, 2011-15. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to (Judy Berman) and (earthrider, earth-rider.com, or earthriderdotcom) with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Main Photo: woods – autumn – Leigh Woods http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leigh_Woods_in_autumn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1592273.jpg

Photo: woods – autumn – Brimley Woods Park (leaf on dirt floor) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Fall_leaves_at_Brimley_Woods_Park.jpg/640px-Fall_leaves_at_Brimley_Woods_Park.jpg

Photo: Canada geese in flight in Leighton Moss http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Canada_geese%2C_Leighton_Moss.jpg/640px-Canada_geese%2C_Leighton_Moss.jpg

Photo – geese – Canada Geese and morning fog http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Canada_Geese_and_morning_fog.jpg/687px-Canada_Geese_and_morning_fog.jpg

    1. While we’ve only passed thru Miami on our way to The Keys, I agree with you, Carl. There is much beauty in Florida. We visited the Everglades one spring and loved it. It’s just that Florida is too doggone hot for my tastes, so I hang out in our air-conditioned home unless I’m out on walks with my husband.

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  5. This was beautiful, Judy and fit the mood here in NJ perfectly this morning. There are a few crunchy leaves on our patio, a chill in the air and the garden is showing signs of aging, all reminders that summer is over. I was just thinking about how quickly that happens.

    1. There’s still Indian Summer, Paprika. I do love this time of year – the chill in the air, fall’s beautiful colors. You’re right, summer’s over all too soon. Up until winter gets really serious in the Northeast, I wish I could be there. 🙂

    1. Glad you enjoyed the poem, Kate. Like you, I have mixed feelings about fall. I know what follows.

      Even if I had my camera with me that day, I doubt I could have captured some of the beautiful images that I found at wikimedia commons. I had a photo of my own that I wanted to add, but it’s in a folder and I do not know how to get a single image from it. Got to work on that. 🙂

  7. Wow! It’s a beautifully written poem. You are a poet, Judy. Loved this work of yours. These pictures are also going really well with the depth of your words.

    1. Thank you for the compliment, Arindam, as I have enjoyed many of your beautiful poems. My writing is from my heart’s memory about Nature’s picturesque, colorful display in the woods.

      1. Is not it wonderful that,how different things this planet offers us, inspire us as different individuals to capture them with our words! I am glad that you listened to your heart and came up with this beautiful poem.

        note from earthrider to Arindam:
        I appreciate your presence and your comments, Arindam. They, too, really touched my heart. Blessings.

    1. Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed my poem, Barb. There is something about each season that I love, and, sometimes dread. Ecclesiastes 3:1 in the Old Testament says it best: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

      1. I must confess to being a little afraid of meeting up with wild critters. Being an islander, I’ve never had that experience.

        note from earthrider to hugmamma:
        Don’t feel alone, hugmamma. I’m a little concerned about meeting up with some of Florida’s wildlife. But I do enjoy seeing them and taking photos of them.

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