Barbara Oesterlin-Heath – Whitefield, ME

An Early Fall Day I arise and look outside to see a bluebird sky and the trees along the field’s edge swaying to a gentle breeze. I walk to the door and crack it open just enough to feel the cool fresh air. I can hear the songbirds singing and twittering from their perches in the trees and on the birdfeeders. Some are flitting back and forth from the trees to the feeders while keeping out an eye for a silent hawk or a soaring eagle. The softer sound of the songbirds is occasionally overwhelmed by the raucous “Caw, Caw” of several crows looking for an easy meal.

Squirrels are scampering and scurrying around on the ground searching for fallen seeds and nuts from the birdfeeders. I catch a glimpse of several deer browsing on bushes along the edge of the woods while slowly moving into the grassy field to graze. Two skittish young ones keep jumping around and don’t dare to come too close towards me in the house. As I watch them for several minutes more they continue moving slowly back into the woods. One minute later they silently melt into the trees and vanish as they head deeper into the woods for a morning nap.

The early morning is a busy time for all the creatures to feast and to socialize as they start another day. As the bright yellow sun crests over the tree tops, I can feel the heat and the humidity start to increase. The activity of the birds and the squirrels starts to slow down and they become more still. As the day moves forward, sounds from nearby neighbors’ houses ring across the fields.

I turn my attention to my day’s activities and errands, and rush around most of the day oblivious to the beauty around me. Finally, we have eaten our dinner and washed up the dishes.

The sun starts to drop down towards the tree line and the sunset glows along the horizon. I take a moment to stop and sit to admire the view from near the top of the field. The songbirds have rallied for a little supper before roosting in the trees for the night.

I savor the view as I watch the full golden moon start to rise over the trees on this clear cloudless night. My mind takes me back to the memory of bedtime at my childhood home.
I can see my mother playing Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” on her beloved upright Steinway piano, while my three siblings and I are lying in our beds trying to fall asleep. It’s my mother’s favorite time of day to unwind after a busy day chasing four kids around. I would usually drift off to sleep to the soothing sound of her tinkling piano keys.

I look up and the darkening sky, the full moon, and the soft breeze on my face bring tears to my eyes. Clair de Lune continues to echo in my mind. I’m back in my childhood bed all snuggled up, feeling my mother’s deep love for me float through the air off the piano keys. I start to hum and to sway to the melody. My heart is so full.

A full moon on a clear night evokes images of one of my most precious memories of my childhood. Aren’t I blessed to have this beauty around me as I savor the ending of an early fall day?