Sunday, October 12, 2008

Canada Geese

Fall, here in the best coastal town, is magical. The trees are ablaze in colors that scream of endings and beginnings in one breath. The sky is a backdrop of bluerthanblue. The smell of woodsmoke lingers. The crunching of the leaves that have fallen add a musical descant to everyday chores. Inside is cozy and warm and outside is brisk and enlivening. Yet fall here in New England is ambiguous.

As I sit on my back deck drinking a cup of coffee and welcoming the day, I hear the trademark sound of autumn: a flock of geese flying overhead. They are headed south like they should - this time of year is the unmistakable foreword to months of bitter cold. The geese are in their telltale V formation, the hull of a ship. The leader is shielding the wind for each bird who follows. The wake of the ship is their lingering song.



They fly by with keen collaboration. They slice through the sky with determined precision. They are in this together. I begin to dust off a fact I must have learned in gradeschool. Yes. Geese mate for life.

I am transported by these birds, not to a place, but to a time between times.
Fall is neither here nor there, just like the geese on their journey.

Fall is a season decidedly between seasons. It is that moment on the merry-go-round when the child loses sight of her waving parents and begins to panic. Things are going by in a blurr and the cigarette smoking bearded man with all the tattoos isn't paying attention to her. He won't stop the ride because he doesn't notice her silently pleading with him. She sheds some silent tears. That moment is fall.

Of course she finally spots them. Her parents had been fumbling through their bag looking for the camera. They wanted to stop time. To remember her just as she was. She breathes a sigh of relief. Fall slips into winter.

The geese are gone, leaving behind the truth that time spins on. The merry-go-round will seat a brand new rider filled with anticipation.

10 comments:

MsPicketToYou said...

My absolute devotional love/hate of fall is redeemed. I AM the in-between so thus I am comfortable in it but also way too aware of my in-betweeny. I think you just saved me gobs of money in therapy.

"Fall slips into winter."

I just bought my ticket. You got yours?

Lipstick Jungle said...

Your posts make me all warm and fuzzy and little teary too - because they are so well written.

I love fall. I love the smell, sounds, colors and even the chill in the air!

Jen W said...

Fall is by far my favorite season. I absolutely love it and you captured it perfectly.

Maggie, Dammit said...

"keen collaboration" -- I love it. Slicing through the sky is exactly what geese do. Lovely, lovely imagery.

anymommy said...

Beautiful, evocative writing. I actually love fall, but I have always loved being in between things. I like the moment of reflection.

Leslie said...

This was great. I adore fall. I adore your writing.

Vodka Mom said...

that was a lovely, lovely post. "in keen collaboration..." LOVED IT.

Meg said...

Lovely post. But now I need a drink. ;)

DKC said...

I hope you realize that you are an amazing writer!

I love fall. I know it's all about change and things dying, but it's so achingly beautiful, I can't help but be in love.

Winter, however, it another thing altogether. Other then that first snowfall - forget it!

Anonymous said...

Wow....

Awesome writing.

Fall is probably my favorite time of year, except for the fact it's time's way of letting me know I'm about to lose golf for a few months...