Picture of the mountain I climbed today. Taken from a bridge on the way there.
Picture of that bridge from the mountain top
Rising up with every step Footfall after footfall I climb Leaves in the hued rainbow of Autumn's sway Glorious golds and marvelous yellows Otherworldly oranges and ravishing reds Sometimes mixing together in the sunlight to seemingly have the canopy aflame.
The ruddy browns, begin to overtake the wonder of the foliage to remind me of winter's coming The bare and barren branches increase in number as the wind sweeps them clean and rains down glittering tiny yellow leaves all around me as I walk.
The early morning air is crisp and cool, and I find myself in layers of clothing. The sun steadily rising as I walk Eastward, blinded by its rays. The world is quiet here. Even the downy woodpecker yonder, refuses to break the sound's slumber It picks insects off the bark of a nearby tree instead of poking away at the dead stump just past it. Untroubled by how I stare at it quizzically.
A red squirrel bounds past before me on the trail. Also, silent as it springs from rock to root and to rock again. Somehow missing all the many leaves that lay in bunches and patches like a makeshift quilt that cover the entirety of the earth.
Suddenly a crow, big and bold, calls at my coming. Taking wing from a branch high above it caws and glides effortlessly off. Bearing in its own direction and purpose. Two others join it from the North and one last from the south. They all head West as I watch them disappear around the side of the mountain. Like shiny black ghosts that perhaps never were.
But I, I walk towards the sun. East and upwards. Ever on. To the top I shall toil Sweat to build first upon my forehead before touching all of my surface. Skin sheened and glistening I smile for the effort and continue.
