(Thanks to Tammy B’s 10min10day inspiration; it’s no accident.)
It’s salt I taste, definitely, and it has seeped softly into my mouth through the meeting of my lips. The tracks of tears I barely register. Beauty has that effect.
The birch stands amid a cluster, not too tall. I have pulled off the road on my way up the mountain pass in late autumn. Oregon offers just what these trees need: moisture, shade, space, the perfect medium. Now the leaves, deciduous and dropping their gold on the ground below, lift and fall with a gentle breeze. Sunlight is muted; the road remains empty—but for me.
It has rained earlier, the remnants drip from the serrated edges of the triangular leaves. The sound is swallowed by the soil. So the flash of wing high in the branches strikes me, drawing my eyes upward along the papery trunk. Some bark, beginning to peel, curls against the surface.
But the red wing, the upright crimson perched on a branch, holds sway. I cannot look away. Attention-getting red without artifice here; I happened along at just the right time.
I have stopped only to stretch my legs, for my trip is a long one, now lightened by this moment, this serendipitous pause. I will let tear traces linger.
Jump off; Find Wings 
This is delightful, what a precious moment you have captured with the beauty of the birch and the bird that lead to tears. The description is so lyrical it takes my breath away. Thank you!
The sights of nature – inspiring. The splash of red – unexpected. The whole scene – moving. Sometimes we come upon something in nature touches us deeply and brings us to tears.
This piece is full of rich, sensory images. I just loved reading about it!
Oregon is on our family bucket list for where we’re going after all four of us are vaccinated. I’ve been to 40 (or 41) states, but have somehow missed Oregon. I cannot wait to go!
I do believe Oregon has something for everyone. I love it here.
“I will let tear traces linger” is a beautiful mood to leave us with.
So beautiful! So many lines grab me. Two of my favorites are “the leaves, deciduous and dropping their gold on the ground below” and “the flash of wing high in the branches strikes me, drawing my eyes upward along the papery trunk. Some bark, beginning to peel, curls against the surface.” I also love the nods to Robert Frost and how they’re woven in with such a light touch.
Thanks for reading.