SOME TREES KEEP THEIR LEAVES IN WINTER
So far, we have only theories
for why some dead, paper-thin
leaves cling to branches long
after their chlorophyll is gone
Pale and dry as old coffee filters
I can hear them wheeze
as they catch on winter’s wind
not quite ready to fall
Some think they’re delayed
an ecological embarrassment
between coniferous and deciduous
Others think they’re evolved
a hero of nature, protecting
new twigs and buds from frost
Suspended between these two fates
of their intention and our perception
I can imagine them laughing at us
As if there always has to be an answer
As if how we look at the end
defines the life we led.
Hike level: Ranging from easy to moderate
Location: Malden, Meford, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester, MA
Driving distance from Boston: About 20-30 minutes
Cost:FREE; download a map here
Description: Just north of Boston, the Middlesex Fells Reservation has over 100 miles of trails covering over 2,200 acres. We hiked the Skyline Trail loop, following the white blazes, for a total of about 7 miles.
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