Head of Yaki Trail

Brown Leaves Falling

A single leaf is insignificant, but in their aggregate leaves dominate the world. From seemingly lifeless branches of trees in the spring there appear buds and eventually comes one of the miracles of all creationa leaf. In the leaf there is the quintessence of life, for a leaf is life itself. As the leaf matures, the rich, green juices of living plants give the leaf color and body. There, in the fragile structure of the leaf, is alchemy. Sunlight is absorbed to mix with the strength of the earth. In the leaf is mixed all the power, all the substance, all the mystery, all the bountiful gifts of two planets. Shield the leaf from the sun and the leaf dies. Remove from it the gifts of the soil and the green leaf soon becomes a withered skeleton. When summer deepens, the leaves on the tree reach maturity. Their deep green is a refreshing spot on the landscape. There is always a promise of coolness in the shade they cast. Their response to the caress of the breeze is one of melody and music and theirs is an eloquent voice in the song of summer. They are polished by the showers of the season and glow under the touch of a summer's sun.