The Waterfalls

Visiting a waterfall, especially on a hot sultry

day, can be a favorite way to spend a day. You get in your

car, drive for miles, then get out and walk the remainder of

the way to a waterfall. Civilization has cleared and marked

a pathway for you and the many thousands like you that

have also come to enjoy these named landmarks. Rarely

do you get to enjoy the natural beauty of one by just

stepping out into your own backyard. Behind my house,

barely noticeable, is a trail leading through the woods to a

waterfall. The trail is narrow but well worn. Any shrubbery

that would have grown has been trampled down and all

that is left is a very narrow path, overhung with branches

from the trees that mark its sides. As I start down the trail,

I begin to feel the trees closing around me until the house

can no longer be seen. I follow the trail to where it stops at

the creek's edge, approaching quietly so as not to disturb

any of the wild creatures that has come to enjoy the cool

fresh water. I gently cross over the creek using the stones,

which show the wear of several previous crossing, so that I

can have full view of the creek and the beauty it possesses.

I can hear the rush of the water long before I see the falls.

As I sit down on the big gray slate rock that has been

warmed by the early morning sun, I begin to gulp in the

beauty as a starving man would gulp down food. I start my

usual ritual of examining the banks of the creek by gazing

down the right side of it first. I notice that the wild azaleas

are in full bloom and that the trees have regained all their

leaves. They stand tall and majestic as if they are soldiers

standing guard. My gaze travels up one of the trees to find

two squirrels chattering down at me as if to say "Go away

and leave us in peace." Further down starts the gentle bend

that takes the remainder of the creek from my view. My

gaze shifts to the left side of the bank and there lies an old

oak tree that has fallen long ago. It still lies partially upon its

stump so that it looks like the shape of an "L". Two ducks

are using it for a resting perch. I continue my perusal up the

bank to the dogwood trees. Their beauty is awesome.

Their branches, filled with ivory white blossoms, stretch

across the creek as if trying to touch the other side. They

remind me of an archway, waiting for someone to walk

beneath them. Standing alongside the bank is a beautiful