Nothing quite fills the senses like a walk
Through early autumn woods,
Damp from recent rain and dewfall
The humid air filled with scents of life
Of moss and leaf and the heady scent
Of the beginning of decay as leaves begin to turn
And the ferns begin to brown.
Later leaves will crisp and curl
But for now, in this damp and fleeting moment
That somehow still feels eternal
Everything is soft, even the light filtered through
The multitude of still-green leaves overhead
Linger long enough and the moisture
Will soak through your shoes, then socks, then skin
And while the subtle change in these woods hints of
Darker, colder days to come
This moment, laden with life and death and moisture and verdant life
Seems forever