Inspired by a drive down Santa Fe Ave
The trees stand with their leaves aflame
A multitude of colors, the breeze carries them gently to the ground
Their beauty is breathtaking to behold, their courage expressed in a last riot of color before their death
Soon there are more leaves on the ground than on the tree
They stand bare and defenseless against the cold
Each witnessing the other's being stripped to its bark and branches
On the coldest day the sap inside begins to warm
Tapping into something deeper than the beautiful leaves
The sap develops and nurtures the tree from the inside enabling it to sprout tiny buds
They will become leaves and eventually fruit will grow
And as the tree stands in its fullness during summer it knows that the cycle will begin again
The leaves will change colors, they will fall
The tree will stand bare and in its nothingness new growth will emerge
When we authentically connect with each other
When we allow ourselves to see others and be truly seen
A burst of dazzling colors, a feast for the eyes and soul
The brave allow those leaves to fall
Exposing our inner selves until there is no mask, no show or facade to hide behind
Standing there defenseless we are not alone
We are all trees on a block standing near each other watching the process unfold
Then we each go home
We stand in the cold with nothing left
Only one option remains, our sap is ready
We nurture and prepare it for the next stage of growth
It won't be easy and it won't be quick but come spring, the buds will emerge
A testament to the growth that was started in the fall
Summer will bring bountiful fruit and shade
After the summer solstice, as the sunlight begins to wane
We know we have the strength to do it all over again