Fort Kochi

From Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is a region in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. This is part of a handful of water-bound regions toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Kochi or West Kochi. Adjacent to this is Mattancherry. In 1967, these three municipalities, along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the Corporation of Cochin.

Fort Kochi is a jewel in the crown of Kerala with its European heritage and true cosmopolitan temperament.A leisurely walk through its streets is one of the best ways to discover all that the town has to offer.A municipal town from 1866 to 1967, Fort Kochi now is one of the three main urban components that constitute the present day city of Kochi,the other two being Mattancherry and Ernakulam. In 1967, these three municipalities, along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the new Corporation of Kochi.

Regarding the origin of its name,the most accepted theory is that the name derives from “kochaazhi” which, in Malayalam, denotes "small lagoon".Mattancherry is the nerve town of old historic cochin. The name Cochin can also be said to be derived from "co-chin", meaning "like-china". As per history records,it looked like China when the Chinese came to the region during the 14th century and erected beautiful Chinese nets. Incidentally, cherry means town in old malayalam.

Once a fishing village of no significance in the Kingdom of Kochi in pre-colonial Kerala, the territory that would be later known as Fort Kochi was granted to the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah of Kochi.Four hundred and forty four years of foreign control of Fort Kochi ended in 1947 with the Indian independence.A mix of old Portuguese, Dutch and British houses from these colonial periods line the streets of Fort Kochi.Perumpadappu Swaroopam,Mada Rajyam,Gosree Rajyam and Kuru Swaroopam are among the different names ascribed to the Cochin Kingdom.

Vembanad lake

Vembanad lake

Vembanad lake (Vembanad Kayal)  is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in Kochi. The Port of Kochi is located around two islands (the Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam) in a portion of this lake known as the Kochi Lake. The celebrated Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of this lake, in the Kuttanad region, known as the Punnamada Lake. High levels of pollution have been noticed at certain hotspots of Vembanad backwaters. Government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under National Wetlands Conservation Programme.

The Vembanad wetland system covers an area of over 2033.02 km²  thereby making it the largest wetland system in India. Of this, an area of 398.12 km² is located below the MSL and a total of 763.23 km² area is located below 1 m MSL. The lake is bordered by Alappuzha,Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. It lies at sea level, and is separated from the Arabian Sea by a narrow barrier island. Canals link the lake to other coastal lakes to the north and south. The lake surrounds the islands of Pathiramanal, Perumbalam and Pallippuram. The Vembanad Lake is approximately 14 kilometres wide at its widest point. The lake is a part of Vembanad-Kol wetland system which extends from Alappuzha in the south to Azheekkode in the north, making it by far, India's longest lake at just over 96.5 km in length. The lake is fed by 10 rivers flowing into it including the six major rivers of central Kerala namely the Achenkovil, Manimala, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Pamba and Periyar. The total area drained by the lake is 15,770 km², which accounts for 40% of the area of Kerala. Its annual surface runoff of 21,900 Mm accounts for almost 30% of the total surface water resource of the state.

The lake has become a major tourist location in the past few years, thanks to its scenic beauty. The most popular location on the shores of the lake is the Kumarakom Tourist Village situated on the east coast of the lake. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the northern fringes of Kumarakom village. The Vembanad Wetland system was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands in 2002. It is the largest of the three Ramsar Sites in the state of Kerala. Vembanad lake has been heavily reclaimed over the course of the past century with the water spread area reducing from 290.85 km² in 1917 to 227 km² in 1971 and 213.28 km² in 1990. In the same period almost 63.62 km of erstwhile water spread were reclaimed primarily for formation of polders and to enlarge the extent of the Wellington island of Cochin port. The lake faces a major ecological crisis and has reduced to 37 per cent of its original area, as a result of land reclamation.

A unique characteristic of the lake is the location of the 1252-meter-long Thanneermukkom salt water barrier. The Thanneermukkom salt water barrier was constructed as a part of the Kuttanad Development Scheme to prevent tidal action and intrusion of salt water into the Kuttanad low-lands. It is the largest mud regulator in India. This barrier essentially divides the lake into two parts - one with brackish water perennially and the other half with fresh water fed by the rivers draining into the lake. This barrier has helped the farmers in Kuttanad by freeing the area of salinity and adding another crop in dry season. The Thanneermukkom barrier is located at one of the narrower parts of the Vembanad Lake. Only two-thirds of the original number of gates is opened in July to release flood flow. These gates remain closed mid-November. The main drawback of the structure has been the loss of opportunity for marine fish and prawns to migrate upstream and an increase in weed growth in the upstream and finally, severely restricted the natural flushing of pollutants. The Thanneermukkom bund has also created ecological problems, primarily, the rampant propagation of the Water Hyacinth in fresh water.

Banasura Sagar Dam,Wayanad

Banasura Sagar Dam

Banasura Sagar Dam ,which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River , is part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project consisting of a dam and a canal project started in 1979. The goal of the project is to support the Kakkayam Hydro electric power project and satisfy the demand for irrigation and drinking water in a region known to have water shortages in seasonal dry periods.

In the dam's reservoir there is a set of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. The islands with the Banasura hills in the background provide a spectacular view. It is the largest earth dam in India and the second largest of its kind in Asia. The dam is made up of massive stacks of stones and boulders.

The Banasura Sagar Dam is located 21 km from Kalpetta, in Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountains. It is an important tourist attraction. Banasura Sagar Dam is at the foot of the Banasura Hill.The Banasura Sagar Dam is named after Banasura, the son of Mahabali who was a very respected king of Kerala.

The dam has become a popular tourist destination. Many people visit the place to go trekking at the Banasura Hill. The Banasura Hill Resort, located about 20 km from the dam was rated as Asia's largest Earthen Resort by BBC . Speed & pedal boats are available & are major hits with tourists. Speed boat ride, in particular, is an exhilarating experience & not to be missed.

Munnar

Munnar

It is one of the attractions that contributed to Kerala's popularity as a travel destination among domestic and foreign travellers. Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, and perched about 1600 m above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India.This hill station is marked by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows, rivulets, waterfalls and cool weather. It is also an ideal destination for trekking and mountain biking.

Let us now explore some of the options in and around Munnar that would provide travellers ample opportunities to enjoy the captivating hill station of Munnar.

Eravikulam National Park

One of the main attractions near Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park. Located about 15 km from Munnar, this park is famous for its endangered inhabitant - the Nilgiri Tahr. Spread over an area of 97 sq. km., this park is also home to several species of rare butterflies, animals and birds. A great place for trekking, the park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also the rolling hills caressed by blankets of mists. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes here get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the flowering of Neelakurinji. It is a plant endemic to this part of the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years. The last time it bloomed was in 2006.

Anamudi Peak

Located inside the Eravikulam National Park is the Anamudi Peak. This is the highest peak in south India standing at a height of over 2700 m. Treks to the peak are allowed with permission from the Forest and Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam.

Mattupetty

Another place of interest, located about 13 km from Munnar Town, is Mattupetty. Situated at a height of 1700 m above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the beautiful lake, which offers pleasurable boat rides, enabling one to enjoy the surrounding hills and landscape. Mattupetty's fame is also attributed to the dairy farm run by the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project, where one would come across different high yielding breeds of cows. Mattupetty with its lush green tea plantations, rolling grasslands and the Shola forests is also ideal for trekking and is home to a variety of birds.

Pallivasal

Pallivasal, located at about 3 km from Chithirapuram in Munnar is the venue of the first Hydro-electric project in Kerala. It is a place of immense scenic beauty and is often favoured by visitors as a picnic spot.

Chinnakanal

Near the town of Munnar is Chinnakanal and the waterfalls here, popularly known as Power House Waterfalls, cascade down a steep rock 2000 m above sea level. The spot is enriched with the scenic view of the Western Ghat ranges.

Anayirangal

When you have traveled about seven kilometers from Chinnakanal, you reach Anayirangal. Anayirangal, 22 km from Munnar, is a lush green carpet of tea plants. A trip on the splendid reservoir is an unforgettable experience. The Anayirangal dam is surrounded by tea plantations and evergreen forests.

Top Station

Top Station, which is about 32 km from Munnar is at a height of 1700 m above sea level. It is the highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road. Travellers to Munnar make it a point to visit Top Station to enjoy the panoramic view it offers of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the spots in Munnar to enjoy the Neelakurinji flowers blooming over a vast area.

Tea Museum

Munnar has a legacy of its own when it comes to the origins and evolution of tea plantations. Taking account of this legacy and to preserve and showcase some of the exquisite and interesting aspects on the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala's high ranges, a museum exclusively for tea was opened some years ago by Tata Tea in Munnar. This Tea Museum houses curios, photographs and machineries; all of which have a story to tell on the origins and growth of tea plantations in Munnar. The museum is located at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea in Munnar and is worth a visit.

Kovalam Beach,Thiruvananthapuram

 Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city,Kerala,India, located around 16 km from the city center .Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees.It is also known as the paradise of the south.Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort,Halcyon Castle,here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India.

Kovalam

   Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline , the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach.The larger of the beaches is called Light House Beach for its 35 metre high light house which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India. However topless bathing is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts. Visitors frequent these two beaches. The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach in tourism parlance. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and Monazite. The normal tourist season is from September to May. Ashoka beach is also the part of Kovalam beach.There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam

 Biyyam Kayal ( Lake ), Ponnani,Malappuram

     Biyyam Kayal or Biyyam Lake is a chief attraction in Ponnani in the Malappuram district of Kerala and draws hundreds of travelers every year. It is a green fringed waterway situated in proximity to Ponnani town. What attracts visitors to this lake is the boat race held here annually during Onam season. Visitors can watch this race from pavilions built for spectators. Approximately two dozen country boats participate in the race which truly is a delightful sight.

    Water sports facilities and other entertainment activities are available in Biyyam Kayal to engage the travelers. Visitors can also get a glimpse of the beautiful hanging bridge built across Biyyam Kayal. Comfortable accommodation is available for tourists as there is a rest house equipped with all modern amenities on the banks of the lake. District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has set up water sports facilities as part of developing this lake into a major tourist center.

Thenmala,Eco-Tourism  ,Kollam

Thenmala,Hanging Bridge

Thenmala,Boating

Thenmala,Sliding through rope

Thenmala,Burma bridge

Thenmala,Elevated walkway

Thenmala, Eco-Tourism, Kollam

     It is India's first planned eco-tourism destination, which is gaining popularity due to its unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning. Situated about 72kms from Thiruvananthapuram, in the District of Kollam, the Thenmala Eco-Tourism shares its resources with the famous Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
     The word Thenmala in the local language Malayalam has an interesting meaning. 'Then' means honey and 'Mala' means hill; and they combine to mean 'Honey Hill'. It is believed that the honey collected from this region is of very good quality owing to its unique biological settings. Managed by Thenmala Eco-Tourism Promotional Society, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala, Thenmala Eco-tourism is a unique destination from a visitor's point of view. It has equal opportunities for fun, adventure, leisure and for learning the significance and necessity of eco-friendly measures for promoting tourism related activities.

     At Thenmala Eco-Tourism, a visitor is taken care of by its well-trained staff providing guidance and information about the various attractions and facilities, enabling one to move about, explore and experience every bit of this remarkable destination. There are well-placed signboards, direction pointers, and information boards to facilitate one's movement inside the project area. Divided into different zones with a particular theme, the project area currently has three major zones viz. Culture Zone, Leisure Zone and Adventure Zone

Thenmala

     Besides the zone-based activities for a visitor, Thenmala Eco-Tourism also offer other attractions, like an invigorating boat ride in the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary; a visit to the Deer Rehabilitation Centre, where one can have a look at a group of spotted deer, the sambar deer and the barking deer, which have been given protection after straying out from the forests. The project area also has tree top huts and children's eco-park, riverside treks, and battery powered vehicle rides through the forest, enabling one to sight wildlife from a close distance.
     For a visitor to Thenmala Eco-Tourism, some of the nearby attractions are also worth exploring. One may visit the picturesque Palaruvi waterfalls, about 16 km away, on the way to Shenkottah. Thenmala Eco-Tourism is open round the year and there are conducted tours organized by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation from the Capital City of Thiruvananthapuram and also by the District Tourism Promotion Council of Kollam District.

Official url:www.thenmalaecotourism.com

 Soochippara Waterfalls ,Wayanad

  Soochippara has the popular sentinel rock waterfalls in Wayanad Kalpetta. Soochippara Waterfall situated near Meppadi is one amongst the gorgeous water bodies in Kerala. At Soochippara there are stretches of waterfalls which are at high altitudes ranging from 100 to 300 feet height. At Soochippara the Sentinal Waterfalls is really a great treat to the sightseeing guests. 

    At the Sentinal Rock Waterfalls there is the pool below providing space for water rafting, bathing, swimming, and other recreational activities. At Soochippara the specialties are the tree top huts that provide a unique view of Western Ghats valleys. Apart from these there are sparkling shallow waters and springs.  

Soochippara Waterfalls

  
     Soochippara Waterfalls adds more beauty to Wayanad Kalpetta. In the mother tongue of Kerala, Soochirefers to needle and Para refers to rock. This is the reason behind the naming of the place. The Sentinal Rock Waterfalls are really high ranging up to 300 feet in height. The Sentinal Waterfalls comprises of totally three stretches. These stretches fall into Meenmutty, Kanthanpara, and Soochippara. At the end these stretches combine and reach the Chaliyar River.
      Soochippara is an undiscovered beauty in Wayanad Kalpetta. In order to reach the falls you need to go through the green tea gardens. The nice aroma of tea leaves is present in the atmosphere. After this you need to proceed 2 kilometer down the equatorial forest. There are steep rocks in the area. Soochippara and its surroundings are ideal for holiday homes. In this place the Wayanad real estate is growing fast. Wayanad can aptly be termed as a paradise for nature lovers. Soochippara adds more beauty to the picturesque Wayanad. The Sentinal Rock Waterfalls in Soochippara is a great spot with scenic locations for photographers to explore.

 Teak Museum,Nilambur 

    Teak Museum is located 4 km from Nilambur, a town in the Malappuram district of Kerala, south India. Teak occurs naturally in India with the main teak forests found in Kerala.The museum, a two storey building, is the world's first teak museum and is operated by the Kerala Forest Research Institute. The exhibits include comprehensive information on aspects of the use of teak in their exhibits and articles on the subject. The museum provides extensive information of value historically, artistically and scientifically.

Teak Museum

   The museum was established in 1995 on the campus of the centre of Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) because of the historical significance of teak to the area. The world's first teak plantation was planted in Nilambur in the 1840s by the British.The nearest railway station is in Nilambur, about 3 km from the Teak Museum. The nearest airport is Karipur International Airport, about 36 km from Malappuram.

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located in the border Malappuram district of Kerala. The sanctuary is situated 19 km from Kozhikode and 7 km from Beypore Port. The bird sanctuary is spread over an area of clustered islands, which is surrounded by little hammocks. Kadalundi River flows through this region and joins the Arabian Sea. This place is also popularly known as Kadalundi Nagaram. The main sanctuary hill is based on a height of 200 m above sea level, from where the visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the river and the Arabian Sea. Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is famous for its diverse avian fauna, which include as many as hundred varieties of indigenous birds and nearly 60 species of migratory birds.

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

Wildlife
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary provides shelter and ideal conditions to a number of migratory birds. These birds include Terns, Gulls, Herons, Sandpipers and Cormorants, which arrive on this sanctuary in the month of November and return to their respective regions by the end of April. Some other important bird species in the sanctuary are Whimbrels and Brahminy Kites. Apart from birds, there is considerable population of different varieties of fish, mussels and crabs in the sanctuary. The sight of thousands of colorful birds flocking to a region of 2 sq. km offer a rare and captivating moment for the visitors. There are boat facilities available for tourists to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the lush green plantation and bird population of this sanctuary. These boats provides a great way to see turtles found here. The best season to visit this sanctuary is from December to April, since it is the season for migratory birds to stay in this wildlife sanctuary.

Kappad Beach

Kappad Beach:A Rocky Portion

Kappad Beach

Kappad Beach, a clean beach with safe waters, is located about 16 km from Kozhikode town. A plaque set on a pillar says that it was here that the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama landed on May 27, 1498, when on his first visit to Kerala. However, many historians believe that though he had anchored his ship here, he landed at the nearby port, Pandalayani Kollam.

Kappad Beach

The beach, that is popular with tourists, is quiet except for a few hours in the morning, when the fishermen launch their boats at dawn, and in the evening when they return with their catch. Sometimes, you can see them spreading fish on the beach to dry them. Other interesting sights here include a rocky headland stretching into the sea and a 100-year-old temple.The beach is ideal for relaxing and playing around with sand. Devi Temple, which is believed to be 800 years old, is situated on top of a rock near the beach. Karappula River at Elathur close to the beach is a good place for boating. Sunset is a great site to watch here, in the combination of Sea and River.

Athirapally Waterfalls

  Athirapally is the land of rivers and forests and great waterfalls!The destination houses the largest waterfall in Kerala, the Athirapally waterfall,a major tourist attraction. This patch in Sholayar ranges so beautifully intertwined with lush green forest cover and sizzling silver cascades and located central to Cochin and River Nila(Bharathapuzha),is a treat for the eyes during the monsoon.Swollen Chalakkudy river, Charpa, Vazhachal and Athirapally are ideal places where the monsoon is to be enjoyed.

Athirapally Waterfalls

   Local communities along the Chalakudy river banded together to stop the construction of a hydroelectric dam upstream from Athirapally Waterfall. The proposed dam would have submerged more than 140 hectares of forest, dried up extensive riparian areas downstream and destroyed Athirapally Waterfall, one of several scenic waterfalls important to the local tourism industry.The dam also would have destroyed the critical habitat of many important species, including the rare Cochin Forest Cane Turtle, the endangered Great Indian Hornbill, the Lion-Tailed Macaque and the Nilgiri Langur.

Athirapally Waterfalls

Athirapally Waterfalls are one of the best waterfalls in India and one of the most famous tourist destinations  in  Kerala. These are magnificent  waterfalls  on  Chalakudy  River  located at the entrance to Sholayar hill range in Thrissur district. 

Athirapally Waterfalls

  At a distance of 70 kms from Kochi & 160 Kms from Coimbatore, this waterfall drops from a height of 80 feet through several parallel streams offering a great scenic beauty. In monsoon season, the water gets strength and all the streams join together and appear like Niagara Falls.

  One can reach top of the falls with about 5 minutes walk from nearest road. It offers spectacular views of the Sholayar hills and a unique view of the waterfalls from this spot. About 10-15 minutes trek down from top of the falls will take you to bottom of the falls where the greatest beauty of the falls can be experienced. Swimming is possible in the stream at bottom of the falls.

   Chalakudy (30 Kms) is the nearest junction to Athirapally and it's connected by bus with Thrissur (55 Kms), Kochi and Palakkad (110 Kms). One can take public/private vehicle from Chalakudy to reach Athirapally.

Nilgiri Tahr 

Nilgiri Tahr Adult

  

                                The Nilgiri tahr

    The Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius, known locally as the Nilgiri ibex or simply ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.Despite its local name, it is more closely related to the sheep of the Ovis genus than the ibex and wild goats of the Capra genus.
    The Nilgiri tahrs are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. Males are larger than the females, and have a darker color when mature. Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in the males, reaching up to 40 centimetres  for males and 30 centimetres for females. Adult males weigh 80 to 100 kilograms and stand about 100 centimetres tall at the shoulder. Adult males develop a light grey area on their backs and are thus called "saddlebacks".

                                                   < The Nilgiri tahr >
Habitats
     Nilgiri Tahr family at the mountain grasslands.These tahrs inhabit the open montane grassland habitat of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion. At elevations from 1,200 to 2,600 metres , the forests open into grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted forests, locally known as sholas. These grassland habitats are surrounded by dense forests at the lower elevations. The Nilgiri tahrs formerly ranged over these grasslands in large herds, but hunting and poaching in the nineteenth century reduced their population to as few as 100 animals by the early 20th century. Since that time their populations have increased somewhat, and presently number about 2000 individuals. Their range extends over 400 kilometres  from north to south, and Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population. The other significant concentration is in the Nilgiri Hills, with smaller populations in the Anamalai Hills, Periyar National Park, Palni Hills and other pockets in the Western Ghats south of Eravikulam, almost to India's southern tip. A small population of tahr numbering around 200 are known to inhibit the Ponmudi hills in the Trivandrum district of Kerala. One of the hills in the Ponmudi range, namely Varaiaadu Mottai (mottai roughly translate as a 'hill' in local language) has also found its name from Nilgiri tahr, indicating presence of the animal in that area.

Pondering and the Dead Forest

A person in a dead forest, pondering many things.

As I sit alone here in this dead forest,
I ponder the thought of sitting here forever,
Would the trees stay dead?
Would they ever once again sprout new buds,
And grow deep roots.

I ponder this as I watch a twig fall from the tallest of the trees,
As it falls, I see that others follow suit,
The branches are bone dry and fragile,
So they fall to pieces as they fall towards the ground.

They barely make a whisper of a noise,
As they hit the surface,
And I begin to ponder where all the animals have gone.

I suppose a dead forest needs animals,
Or do the animals have no need for a dead forest?
I ponder this as I watch a piece of bark being moved across the dirt floor.

The ants were interesting creatures,
And I watched as they went back and forth,
Carrying large pieces of bark to their nest.

I look up and shield my eyes as the sun shines down,
And ponder why the trees no longer grow,
And the animals no longer thrive.

I ponder why the ants still call the dead forest home,
I ponder why they do not live in a more abundant forest,
One with many different things, animals, plants, weather changes, etc.
I ponder why, even after the forest has died, the ants stay.

Then, as the sun hides behind the cumulus clouds,
I cease to ponder and continue my trek through the dead forest.

a beautiful view...

Mist Upon the Placid Morn

Bleed out your beauty, Autumn –
Give up a gentle wrist, and smear
Your bloody hues atop the green.

Cast a calming throw of heady peace
Upon the cooling land.
And as you grant the sun a final fling of warmth,
Charge the silent air
(Now lolling on a foliar deathbed)
With earthen whiff to intimate the fungal push.

Soon you’ll send a shiver down the watery spine of
Quivering ponds, punctual brooks, and
Listless lakes, to warn them of the freeze to come.

Behold! your mellow spirit
Hanging as a mist upon the placid morn –
A sight that draws a sneaking tear or two – forlorn
Observers are we all of colder climes to view!

Autumn Lady, must you be the summer waning –?
Our adieu to fairer-weather life?
Ah well, at least you hum a warming tone, ensuring
Nature’s rhythm still abounds.

But now you must prepare the mind for chilly times –
You know the drill –
Guiding us along a sloping path
To ease our psyche in to sleet and snow –
The blue-ice bite of winter.