Defoliation

                                                                                                By Wang Wenyu

I was walking on the country road of Northampton with a heart of peace. The world was shaded with a gold edge by the sunshine. It was shining like the glory of an angel. (The river beside the road reflecting the color of sky like a mirror was mixed with sky.) Ancient looking buildings on the roadside were surrounded by the trees dressing in red and yellow.

"It is just like the fairy-tale." I thought. Suddenly the mild wind of New England stopped my steps. Its gentle and soft touch on my face brought me the aroma of soil and flower. I was breathing as hard as it could possible to be--I ached to fill my soul with the perfume of nature and life. The beauty of nature shocked and conquered me. The murmurs of water now became the best symphony that ever had on this planet. Every flower, grass, leaf, wood, mud and mist was smiling.

I was so thankful that God gave me the chance to see and to experience it. He endowed me my life and a heart of discovery as well as all creatures around me. I went to lie on the grass covering with defoliation and look up at sky.

It was blue, simple and beauteous. But without warning, it changed--the soft wind did not only bring me the enjoyment but also the death of leaves. They were falling like the ghost dance of Native American. It was holy.

"They are crying." I contemplated, waiting for them landing on me. I took one of them, staring at it. It was animatedly red. No one could believe such a beautiful creature could be dead.

I was sad. Because it was death, a destiny, that was waiting for every creature. It was a profound memory of life. The neverland around me would die one day, no matter how beautiful it was.

"Why did you choose to fall?" I asked the maple leaf in my hand, "you can do nothing now."

"Nothing?" I repeated the word in my mind. Sunddenly, it remind me of something.

Falling down, it will keep its life in the ground, leading to a new life in the future. Its decomposition would never be the end. Yes, there was no death but a new circle for its destination of life, an absolutely new one.

Vitality of life excited me rapidly. I had never felt such a hopeful afternoon, for I could go through all the beauties of existence. Another day would go by. I enjoyed every moment in my life, with growing and no way back. Time was fleeting, but I would not regret and all I was doing was to create my beauty of life, even though I knew all of them would have gone...

Happiness refilled my heart. I stood up and continued walking.

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