The trunks of tall trees dominate the early winter woods: gray pillars of spruce, fir, and pine.
The understory shrubs and ferns no longer obscure sight; we can walk among the pillars with a vivid sense of three dimensionality.
Also gone are the high maple and birch leaves, their loss leaving jagged holes in the canopy. Sunlight sneaks through the new openings in splashes and slices. It’s silent; the air is pure, and it's the right kind of cold. (Brooklin, Maine)