Fall's Leafy Harvest

We are slushing and shushing noisily
through woodland trails deep in fallen
leaves. The surrounding deciduous trees
almost bare, protective canopy fast
disappearing. The evergreens, however,
bright green, even while the pines are
dropping needles like rain in the wind.

Clasped in my fist, the bag of daily peanut
offerings. As we begin the long descent
into the ravine those curious crows fly over,
then settle nearby, to watch us dispensing
peanuts in the usual cracks and holes in
tree bark, on stumps and in crotches
where our customary clients are already
gathering in anxious expectation.

Tiny red squirrels aggressively give
entitled chase to the infinitely larger
blacks and greys. A saucy chipmunk
busies itself gathering what it can stuff
into its pouch, blithely ignoring the
officious reds. We leave behind us, as we
progress along the trails, satisfied clients
who seem to know tomorrow is another
day, and the day after that, as well.

For they appear like clockwork, poised
and anticipating, some bold enough to
face us around the corner of tree trunks
at eye level, awaiting their deposit. None
ever so bold as the little black tail-less
one for whom we save the special,
three-chamber peanuts, his alone.

He runs directly toward us, stops a few
feet shy of our small dogs, and awaits our
homage. It is not long in dispersal and
Stumpy avails himself, then stations nearby
as we watch him destroy the casing, bits
flying, and excavates the fresh nut meats,
one after the other, turning them in his
clever paws, counting one-two-three.

We know that when he looks down
keenly at the ruined shell to convince
himself he has not missed a nut, he
will speedily return for another, and yet
another until satiation, when he leaves us.
The three crows, dark marauders, watch
the proceedings. They are accustomed to
politely waiting by as they settle down
beside the caches to take advantage of a
lull in squirrel traffic, and avail themselves
before flapping off, mission accomplished.

The acrid flavour of leaves underfoot
crackling as we submit to our perambulation
and the still-vivid colours of newly-fallen
foliage celebrates fall, under the clarity
of the wide blue sky and warming sun.