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Michael's Metaphors of Life Journal

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Soliloquy for the Cavalcade of the Seasons

October 4th, 2014 by Michael Dyet

Woodland Creek Summer 2014

Hmmm, are the seasons of our life measured the precious moments of joy we string together?

October has a quality all its own. As the birds depart species by species for their winter homes, the leave salute their going forth with a pageant of autumn garland – russet orange, mahogany, scarlet red, goldenrod, apple green and variations too numerous to describe.

Even as I marvel at the rainbow hues, the first cool day triggers a longing for the summer that slipped away too quickly. Yes, it was a damp summer with temperatures that at times struggled to get past the mid 60`s. But it had its memorable days.

The photograph at the head of this post was taken in early August at Hilton Falls Conservation Area. The vista captured my attention as I hiked a woodland path on the prowl for butterflies and dragonflies.

Normally this creek is reduced to a trickle by August. But the abundant summer rains this year kept it flowing at spring levels. The hazy, sun-washed view of the creek, tumbling over rocks and logs and disappearing over the cliff into the reservoir below, was a Norman Rockwell painting in the making.

I recall that the day this photograph was taken was one of the cool days that were common this summer. The sun was an escape artist – appearing and disappearing at random intervals.

But it was around enough to coax a few winged wonders to strut their stuff in the small woodland meadow that is one of my treasured hot spots. I always find a Saffron-winged Meadowhawk in the tall grass there. This year was no exception. The Great Spangled Fritillary, an orange flash darting by, was a bonus.

It was also a two-hairstreak butterfly day. Finding both a Banded Hairstreak and a Striped Hairstreak on the same day is always a summer highlight. The larger meadow, hidden down a side trail, my reliable spot to check off the classy Gray Comma butterfly on my season list, delivered on its promise.

Summer has now relinquished the field to the audacity of autumn. I am caught in between my affection for the colour showcase of fall and my love affair with the abundance of summer.

In a few weeks, autumn will wane and fade into the grays of November as winter rounds the corner. Then I will begin counting the days until spring blooms and brings wave after wave of avian migrants returning to their breeding grounds.

The older I get the more important it seems to live into the fullness of each day. For each season (with the exception of Old Man Winter) is a passing fancy that runs away from me before I have had my fill of it. Never enough is the plaintiff cry of my restless heart.

The glorious woodland scene that graced my August day is a heaven sent metaphor for living in the moment and stringing together those precious moments into unforgettable days. We cannot   freeze time. But now and then we can expand it and place our stamp of joy upon it.

~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of “Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel” – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.

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