LISTENING

A CLEAR, CHILL DAWN

SIT AND LISTEN TO THE LEAVES

Tuesday, 8:00 AM.  34 degrees F, wind SW, light at ground level, but strong westerly winds are pushing thin white clouds quickly eastward in the stratosphere.  The sky is mostly clear, the humidity is 85% and the barometer is up, at 30.19".  It should be a good day to get things done outside.
   As Buddy and I made our rounds the this morning we stopped long enough for me to hear a frosted leaf fall to the ground.  I don't think it made any impression on the dog, but it reminded me of a short poem local writer and Tree Board member Howard Paap read at our last Tree Board meeting:

NOVEMBER NIGHT

By

Adelaide Crapsey

                                                Listen-

                                               With faint dry sound,

                                                Like steps of passing ghosts,

                                               The leaves, frost-crisped,

                                               Break free from the tree

                                               And fall

   In spite of, or perhaps because of, all of the confusion, clutter and turmoil in our everyday lives, it behoves each of us to take some time to just sit... and listen.