The Leaves Leave

Yesterday we felt the first bite of winter. I had forgotten how unpleasant cold air feels on my skin. The leaves on the trees have been turning from green to yellow lately - I've tried to ignore it - but in the last week they have suddenly sped up and changed dramatically to reds and browns instead. I can ignore it no longer. The leaves are now withered and dry. They are giving up the fight, giving up their spectacular view, letting the icy wind push them off their comfortable branches and blow them ruthlessly into the cloudy sky. With a defeated sigh, they float down and land any-old-where, where they will let the ground take them back as mulchy muddy muck. The death throes of summer.