Describing a Picture of Children

¶ … crisp spring breeze caresses her hair and a few strands blow across her tanned face. She shivers for a moment, but the chill passes as the golden sunlight creeps over the trees nearby. Suddenly the landscape erupts in pastel colors, at once soft and bright. As the sun rises, it freely gives its warmth to the girl's young skin, which responds with joy. Her feelings are contagious: surrounded by her new friends, the seven-year-old girl smiles and holds the hand of the girl next to her. The sensations I feel when I gaze at this picture include warmth and gentleness, light and beauty, freshness and floral aromas, and the sweet song of spring birdsong. The scene reminds me of the time in my youth when friendship was simple and carefree.

The shades of light and color in the photo indicate a subtle and subdued light, reminding me of spring. The sunlight isn't directly visible, nor is it strong. It is either dawn or dusk, and I imagine it is the former because the quality of light feels new and fresh. However, one of the boys in the photo holds an umbrella as a parasol for the other children. His giving shade is a gesture of immense kindness, an action that is so rare in the world today. This simple act, which was probably done without much thought on the part of the young boy, gives me hope. Children will always possess a core understanding of friendship and empathy. The pastel colors in the photo add to the mood of kindness. It feels soft and gentle, not harsh. The eight children in the picture all seem happy and full of joy. They are of multi-ethnic backgrounds and their skin colors vary, but none of them is at all aware of their differences. Their backgrounds don't matter when they are surrounded by love and the beauty of nature. Instead, they hold hands. They stand in front of a fence, but there is no barrier to their kindness.

A imagine that they hear the wondrous sounds of springtime. The eight children in the photo all laugh heartily with each other, gently teasing and taunting each other and giggling whole-heartedly. Above their laughter can be heard the songs of birds greeting a new day. Although there are no robins or sparrows or any birds in the photo itself, the children somehow remind me of birdsong. Perhaps their smiles and laughter sound like our feathered friends.

The smells that the picture evokes include the aromas of freshly mowed grass and flowers opening their petals to the morning light. Wildflowers and garden blooms alike spread their pollens in the wind. Also, the children smell clean; they must be getting ready for school or for some kind of outing. They are dressed casually and seem excited and full of anticipation. This sense of wonder I pick up from all of them brings back happy memories from my own childhood. I also start to smell freshly baked pies and cookies right out of the oven; these are the aromas of my own childhood.