Exhilaration!

You've just left nature's garden and as you
strolled through the forest trails noted the
absence of vibrant foliage for yesterday's
violent winds and rain swept them from
the branches of the forest canopy and
drained them of their colour. On the forest
floor a litter of detritus, long-dead branches
newly fallen amongst decomposing tree trunks
turning to their destiny as compost for the
forest. Nature is busy and sees no value
in tidying up her garden, but soon you are
in your own and under dark clouds where
the late morning has been cast in dusky
shades you rake. You have few deciduous
in your garden, mostly conifers, but your
neighbour has a large maple and another
an oak and they line your garden beds and
litter your lawn and you feel joyfully
braced with the cold wind blowing them
hither and yon, taking huge pleasure in
filling compost bags with the desiccating
foliage, their fragrance returning you
momentarily to childhood. You carefully
snip back the rose canes still cheekily
setting up tender pink-white buds to bloom
pull the last of the yet-blooming annuals
and empty the garden pots of their soil.
Suddenly rain falls copiously and you
are grateful, euphoric, your mission well
accomplished. What a wonderful day!