Whirling Wing

I picked up a dry, double-winged maple samara resting on the damp mortar of the low stone wall. Curious about its natural aerodynamic balance, I carefully separated the central seam with both hands to split the twin seeds into individual propellers. Standing tall on the stone ledge, I lifted one winged seed high overhead and released it into the morning air. Instead of tumbling straight down, its asymmetric center of gravity immediately caught the updraft, spinning the papery blade in a frantic, exquisite blur! It spiraled toward the grass like an organic miniature helicopter, and I promptly tipped my top hat to nature's clever flight engineering.