A Sleepless Eye: Aphorisms from the Sahara

Seasons

Seasons 23 The leaves of trees are sheets of paper on which the Seasons record their prophecies. With wind the autumn strips bare. With snow the winter veils. Trees cannot don winter clothing unless they have been stripped of their autumnal attire. Autumn tears the clothes off the bodies of trees and forces them to sleep in winter’s embrace. Autumn is not a rival of winter; rather autumn is a maid who prepares a chamber in the garden for her master, winter. In winter’s eye no tree becomes a virgin unless it has been stripped of veils. With the autumn wind comes rain to help to blow leaves away. Winter is a sanctuary that trees may only enter naked. A useful companion is one who veils the nakedness of trees in snow shrouds. Winter refuses to receive mankind in its sanctuary naked, yet it will only accept trees stripped bare. ...