But for today, I'd like to offer a few words in praise of autumn.
Here at my old Kentucky home, we've had that prime 40 – 80 degree weather for over a month now, the leaves are about due to peak in bright ruby and golden glory (a little later than normal) and that sweet antique leaf smell has been breathing new life in to us as the year slows to a stop.
I've a bit of savings in my underground sweet potato bank yet and a mess of a back yard to deal with and putting to bed the garden for her winter sleep yet to do. With energy rates skyrocketing, I've some very needed insulating kinds of things to do around the house.
But what a great time of year! Although it is cooler this morning, gray and damp, autumn is alive and well. Our annual church retreat is this weekend and we have great beauty and joy to look forward to. Hallelujah! (pardon me if I wax charismatic – fall does that to me).
I'll close with John Updike's poem on fall, to speak that which my words fail to accomplish.
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The breezes taste Of apple peel.
The air is full Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean with suds, the days
Are polished with a morning haze.
John Updike, September
3 comments:
bright ruby and golden glory...this is my favorite time of year.
yes, beautiful flowers bloom in the spring, the summer brings marvelous days to play in cool waters, and the glistening snow in the winter is a sight to behold. but the "bright ruby and golden glory" and brilliant orange hues that cover the trees and the ground everywhere one goes...nothing is better (at least for me). not to mention the cool weather and bright sunshine, needing a sweater but not a coat, working in the yard is more joy (at least here in MO, it's not so joyful in the swelter of summer) than perhaps any other time.
amen to your honoring autumn's glory! it was a wonderful and thankful way to start my day!
that was lovely. i liked the poem. we've had autumn now for a while, which is a delight since from my texas roots i rarely saw autumn. are you a photographer or something?
Thank you both. No, Gwen. I'm not a photographer. But thanks, just the same.
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