Earth Exhales

Earth  Exhales

 

 

 

 

 



A cold, quiet air mass
pushes through bare branches,
down through the canopy,
through the understory,
and settles upon leaves
deep, thick, and brittle brown;
gathered upon the ground
only two weeks ago.

Leaves settling
and compacting.
Finding the place
where they will spend
a deep, long winter.

Now in November
beginning their long,
slow, decomposition.

Moist air, soil and leaves
combine to offer this
mildly pungent scent
of rich autumn woods,

as we walk through
evening's last light
and inhale
what the earth
exhales.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Red Oak  (Quercus rubra)

Photo Location:  Home Woods