Seeking grace. Her final fall.
She trembled with indecision.
The rattling got louder and louder as others notice her. “Jump! Do it! Do it!” Their mask-like grimaces made the urging even more surreal.”Stop wasting time.”
Shouldn’t have been surprised. There were signs.(1910/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Really? Wasting time? Is that all that mattered to them? Not the fact that she was clinging up so high? Only a dangling entertainment for them? Shutters ran through her spine again, but she tightened her hold. Veins pulsing with the effort.
Not exactly the summer’s end she had anticipated. “What happened?” she wondered. Would her fall even be a blip on the media’s windshield? Probably not.
First of the summer was so…so…promising. Fresh and new to them all, she danced on air – whirled day and night without cares.
Then.
Not understanding her time was coming. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Even her own. They had roots there! It made no difference. Told her it was over. “Just accept it,” they said woodenly. Frostily rigid. Stiffly refusing to reconsider – to intervene. For her! The one they so celebrated upon her Spring arrival.
Why wasn’t she told?
Why hide the truth?
The world seemed cold now.
“Do it! Go on! You are not special. You are of no consequence. Let go. Do it. Jump!”
Still she refused. Holding on – for what? She searched the sky. A small breeze stroked her cheek. Encouraging her. Giving her courage. For what?
Ominous. How could she hope to challenge the status quo? (Beyond My Ken/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Her grasp, tiring.
It wasn’t so far. Down. Others gone before.
Simply, at this point, expected. Inevitable. Fate.
Surrender.
A twist. Turning. Falling with time suspended. Sound silenced.
A faint shuffling. Still conscious enough to recognize the sound
A child. Small feet scuffling forward.
No, please, no. Enough damage.
Unable to move. Panic.
What is wrong with that mother? Why isn’t she stopped?
She doesn’t need this: this shape crushed on the ground.
Leaf it to a childlike innocence. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
“Mommy, look! All red. Red. Red. Red.” Pudgy fingers working so hard to be gentle.
“Yes, it finally let go and came to you. Nothing finer than the first red leaf of fall.”
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Bright one.(Inspiring downward dog yoga pose?)©
Scarlet dancers are often followed by wolf-like shadows. Body guards or stalkers?©
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
It seems no matter what kind of spring and summer we have climate-wise our leaves never disappoint us with their slow yet inevitable turn into beautiful colors before they depart their trees. Sometimes the change may be quicker in some years than others…but in this case all change is worth embracing and enjoying.
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It’s much too early for the crepe myrtles to be turning and dropping leaves. Some of them are still blooming. Not due to drought either. Guess there are trendmakers in every species. Hope the weather gives you a wonder fall weekend – makes football games better even if only on tv. Thanks for falling in with a comment
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I hope the leaves of my area are brave enough to jump soon… they all are still on the trees…. and I’m so ready for hunting… :o(
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We accused Molly of shaking the trees…she’s blaming the recent juvenile possum visitor (that she thinks is a cat…No, you can’t keep it). Once the leaves leave, squirrels are so much easier to spot! Yes, Easy, bark on! Thanks for the big woof
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Bravo! Well written! I never seem to find an appropriate way to photograph these little dancers as they make their way to woodland floor, sometimes gently falling while other times spiralling crazily as they’re cast from the trees. I wonder so much about trees and all that they contribute to our world… how it must be for them. This time of year the muti-colored blanket of leaves on the woodland floor is amazing and beautiful.
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I’m a Fall person and this is the best time of year to be in the woods. So sad so few get to experience the delight of the change of seasons. It’s fun to see the little children dashing from leaf to leaf – experiencing such joy – they still see how each one is painted differently and all the shapes. Perfect time to addict them to science if anyone bothered. (Far too much time spent indoors is a big part of educational problems).
Time to write when winter hibernation comes – go out and play now! Thanks for jumping into the leaf pile
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Lovely story. I’ve only seen one partially-colored leaf so far. It was red. Hoping all of its colorful brethren come tumbling down soon. Autumn is my time of year.
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Let the parade begin! (and we can happily say that as we have few trees that shed, so not little if any raking) The bold scarlet dashed on a green leaf always announces fall has arrived. Thanks for tumbling along
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Ah yes, those early red leaves are the best way to silence our end-of-summer grumblings. In fact, as I look out my window, I see some now!
Wonderful post.
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Go outside and play! We’ll be stuck inside soon enough. Nature’s got the fall party decorations already out – would be impolite not to show up for a little while. Thanks for falling into the comment leaves
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Tell the leaves relax, there’s been a change of plan… on the other side of the world winter’s still kicking up its heels…. brrrrrrr 😉
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We’d better poke Mr Snow Miser. Alaska is having record snow fall right now. Apparently it’s been decided white is a year round color? (I am pretty sick of the same old warm weather clothes, but must we skip the lovely in between seasons of fall and spring? Unfair…starting a change.org petition) Thanks for bundling up a comment
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Please re-leaf me, let me go…
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Leaf it to you. Good one. Would it be bad to say, “Oh, you rake”? 🙂
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Yep, you bagged it with that one. 😀
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Nothing like a mulch pile of clever quips
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‘Tis the season of leaf-ing! Color has started and soon the nights will beckon a wood fire with the scent of smoke filling the air. My favorite!
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Let the crunch time begin! (if the rain stops – but hey clouds making it cool enough to wear jeans rather than shorts – so I can pretend!) Thanks for leaping into the comment pile
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Tell summer to go ahead and jump. It’s time to get outside and play. Jump in leaf piles or at least take a walk in the woods. It still feels a little like summer here (warm and humid with a tropical-like system whirling around), but it’s starting to look like autumn with reds and yellows popping up.
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We have the same weather – different tropical-ish lows swirling. But if ducks are arriving now, cool is on the way. Thanks for leaving a colorful comment
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They’re jumping like lemmings here. All yellow. Falling. Like tears of the summer sun.
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Your comment reads like a poem. Love the last line! Perfect. (And that lovely sound of the wind shaking the gold) Thanks for sweeping a comment this way.
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What a lyrical post. Music, in words.
You really are the best.
No doubt.
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Nothing like a read leaf to set up whimsy. Appreciate the kind words. (Running behind again, but tell the Princesses we’ll be by shortly!) Thanks for falling in with lines
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Beautiful, poignant…wonderful!
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Oh, a thank you curtsey. Appreciate the kind words and encouragement.
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Your posts are always fun to read because the subject is rarely obvious in the beginning. It’s like pulling the ribbon off a package and removing the delicate wrapping anticipating the moment of revelation. I love the colors of autumn leaves. Unfortunately, I missed the window of opportunity to see beautiful displays here. Next year, perhaps 🙂
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Always a surprise bag here, HA HA. Thanks for the encouragement and falling into the comment pile
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