Peaceful Meadow

The sun slowly rose over the mountain side, basking the sky in orange and red. The night frost began to melt, pooling in the meadow's yellow grass. 1

The forest began to wake, birds signing and crickets chirping. In the distance, the rapping of a woodpecker echoed, tapping against the oak's bark. Bees zipped through the air, ready to start another day of hard work. Landing on damp petals, it collected the pollen with great haste, not wasting a single second. 2

As the sun rose higher, the sky brightened to a brilliant blue. The warmth bathed the meadow and the surrounding trees, drying the dew from their greenery. An autumn breeze brushed through the leaves, knocking them loose. They spun and twirled through the air, fluttering down to the meadow below. With a soft crunch, they landed one by one, speckling the mass of grass with orange and red. 3

Soon, the sun was directly above, raising the temperature through the forest. Animals slowly came out of their barrows, working the night's chill from their bones. A doe gracefully walked across the meadow, watching her fawn closely as it played with the falling leaves. A rabbit nibbled on some of the grass, pausing for only a moment to look around. 4

Clouds gathered in the sky, shading the earth from the sun's rays. Another chill swept through the land, scaring the animals back to their warm homes. Slowly, the forest grew quiet and only the softest of sound were heard. The gurgle of the brook or the call of a robin were the only signs of life in the forest. 5

Suddenly, snow started to fall from the sky. The flakes covered the meadow and the branches of the great oaks thinly, but shortly melted away. As night approached, the wind grew colder and the sky darkened. 6

Finally, the only sound in the forest was the laughing brook and the chirping crickets. They played their lullaby as the forest started to settle in for the night. The animals curled together and the birds sat close in their nests. Silence filled the forest as the sun laid to rest and the moon rose. 7

Dreams danced through the trees like spirits, laughing and playing, hoping for a new day to come. No doubt the sun will rise again, but for now the moon watches over head, wishing them all a good night.