Experience in Nature 1: Class at the Noland Trail

Experience in Nature 1: Class at the Noland Trail
October 26, 2017

I’m sitting on a cut piece of wood staring out at the water.
The water is a greenish color but I see the golden color of the tree leave reflecting off of it.
I see so many stages of life right now. There’s a small sapling right in front of me, just beyond that there are taller and more grown up trees. A fallen and decayed tree is by the water, just at the edge of the land. Beside it lies a freshly fallen pine tree. The decayed tree looks like a worn skeleton. The freshly fallen tree’s pine needles are still bright green.
I wonder how long it will be until these trees completely decay? How long will they be sitting in this spot?
According to the Center for Northern Woodlands, it takes often takes trees over 50 years to completely decay and disappear.
This information is so wild to me. If I returned to this exact in 20 years, would the tree still here? Perhaps.
The trees appear to be the same because certain features are similar, but they still look so different from each other.
The skeleton tree’s bark is worn and gone. Its’ trunk has faded from  dark brown to a light brown.
Beyond all of this, there is a vibrancy.
Light dances on the water, there’s an orangish hue across the sky.
Life is abundant, even though these trees have fallen.    
Temporary, and yet life is still beautiful.
As I walk back to my car my eyes catch a glorious sight--light pours through the forest.

Golden green, seeping
Through the trees
Mysterious, but good
Calling me ahead
I am compelled, and nervousness is almost lingering
But I am sure it is hope, it is good.
And it shall lead me to the land of the living.                                 

Link to the article about northern pines:

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