The warmth of summer days gives way to chilling autumn night’s and the sky’s stay dark for longer hours. The woods are as quiet as a crackle crunch dry. Gray squirrels search for acorns, I am on the hunt. As the winds calm in the evening you can hear the chipmunks chirp and foot steps in the distance, I ready the bow. Full alert with a pounding heart then from behind the brush Bambi shows. His head is lowered and takes a drink from the trickling stream, cold wet waters barely running. No such luck so far waiting for those big horns, but I am smiling. The crisp cool air watches the golden red maples leaves tumble down swaying back and forth as they drop. An owl hoots and the bluejays squabble with a ruckus alarming all of nature about a corn pile. The 12 foot dead birch tree stump has a hole towards the top and a nuthatch calls it home. Argumentative red squirrels race with lightning speed strait up the tree scolding me for being on their turf. Life has a peaceful moment but there is still that one mosquito and with a slap I return to sitting still. As the days creeps to an end darkness overtakes the world, coyotes emerge from their den and with a howl night begins and I climb down from my perch. My soul has been recharged listening to the voices of nature. September 29 2020