The corpses of
almond trees line the fields in neat rows.
Their white branches
reaching to the sky, almost as in supplication.
The ground is bare
beneath.
It is winter and the
trees are in hibernation, resting after a long season of work.
Though bare, their
branches hold the promise of the Spring to come.
When the ground will
wake once more.
Little nodules where
tiny green buds will appear as if by magic.
Branches and leaves
will spring from where once there seemed to be nothing.
Then the buds will
appear.
White spots of
beauty adorn their arms. The fruit of that vine.
The wind blows and
the rains falls. The trees stand tall through it all.
The petals cover the ground in a Spring
"snow".
As the nuts begin to
grow, the rabbits will run through the lush grass that now covers the orchard
floor.
The almonds will
begin to change color and harden.
Soon it will be
time.
The machines invade
the serene scene. Noisily they shake the nuts from the trees and pick them up
from the ground. Once the orchard has been ravaged for it's bounty, the
discarded shells will cover the ground.
The trees' work for
the season is done.
The farmer will mow
and trim. Preparing the trees for the winter to come.
The leaves will
fall. The wind blows them about and the rabbits crunch them underfoot.
The trees stand bare
once more, to rest until the Season will begin again.
