leaves

The autumn rainbow shown in all it's vibrant beauty. Red, yellow, orange, gold and bronze, swayed in the gentle caress of the wind. They danced on air, twirling, dipping, performances to make a ballerina envious. The wind carried the tiny dancers about, swirling them round and round, turning them into a loose cloud of color.

Standing among the rainbow winds, arms outstretched, eyes closed, Fields of Heather smiled as the leaves brushed across her face like feathers. They whispered in her ears and tickled her arms. The wind lifted her long purple hair, sending it too dancing around her. Leaves caught on the silken tresses then let go, to dance away.

Opening her eyes, she watched the leaves moving to some unheard tune. Tilting her head back, Heather watched them swirl, turning the crystal blue sky into a living, moving mosaic of color. The wind picked up, the leaves moved faster, some in tiny, tight spirals, pirouetting in air before darting out of view. Turning slowing around in the center of the storm, Heather smiled again, a song rising unbidden to her mind. Softly Heather sang to the wind...

"Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows? only time.
And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose? only time."

Slowly twirling in place, Heather sang to the leaves, who added their own rustling to the song...

"Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies? only time.
And who can say why your heart cries
when your love lies? only time."

Her voice grew stronger, more confident with each word. She moved a bit faster, twirling about, arms raised above her, head thrown back.

"Who can say when the roads meet.
That love might be, in your heart?
and who can say when the day sleeps,
if the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart....."

Singing sweetly, Heather began moving, dancing with the wind, moving in and among the leaves. They leapt about her, brushing against her body, placing dainty kisses on her face.

"Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose? only time.
And who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows? only time."

Slowing, the wind let the leaves drift lazily about. Heather also slowed, coming to stand, still twirling slowly, in the spot where she had started. The leaves floated down, exhausted from their dance to gather at her feet.

"Who knows? Only time.....
Who knows? Only time....."

Closing her eyes, Heather savored the last whispers of the leaves. When the last one stilled and the wind calmed, she lowering her arms and opened her eyes. Seemingly out of nowhere, one last leaf, a vibrant gold yellow drifted down. It turned about in the air, just inches from her. Catching the delicate beauty, Heather held it up to her face. Smiling, Heather held on to the fall gem, taking it back with her as she left the sleeping leaves behind to head indoors.