Holly Tupper

23 February 2018

The Autumn Metropolis

As the wind blew strongly through the mighty giant’s hands, it carried many leaves on a

long journey down to the ground. These leaves floated south in many different sizes, shapes, and

colors. It was as if glistening gold coins, sparkling rubies, and little balls of sunshine were falling

from the sky. Every single leaf had it’s own little story to tell as it fell. Some had fallen from

great heights where it was as cold as the Himalayan Mountains, and some just had a few feet

before they came in contact with the musty floor of the forest. All of these leaves were different

cities in their own little ways, but there was one particular leaf who had a more intriguing story

than the rest.

The burnt orange sunset was slowly sinking upon the skyscraper like peaks upon the leaf,

and tendrils of smoke could be seen wafting up from all of the city’s buildings. A miniature tree

trunk stood proudly in between these abstract buildings, and it was doing a fine job of holding

the entire city together. There were many streets that branched out from the trunk in the middle

of the city, and they were like the network of veins in a human body. Looking down on the city,

there were many dark piles of trash in the alleyways. Underneath the city was the ratty and dark

subway station. The Stygian tunnels under the city were very dusty, and the minuscule dust

particles could be seen floating in them. Since there were many of these tunnels that ran

underneath the concrete fortress, large stairways led back up to the sinking light of the city.

Insects or animals were the only beings that populated or even visited this beautiful city,

but none of these creatures could live upon it. This place was only suitable for creatures to
consume. Even so, ants could be seen marching busily across it to and fro on their missions.

Birds could be seen carrying this city to their nests to make them more hospitable, and the little

caterpillars munched on it to morph into a beautiful butterfly. These particular little cities just

happened to be the heart of Mother Nature herself.