Falling into Autumn
What? Today is the equinox? Difficult to believe since I spent yesterday hanging out in the backyard basking in 76 degrees. Then again, the front yard is depositing its first layer of leaves and the burning bush is glowing red. Yes, fall has arrived once again.
Fall in my region is a dichotomy of indecision. Mornings require a quick warmup with the heater and a spritz of air conditioner by noon. By evening the decision to have the fuzzy blanket nearby is made since nights plunge down to the forties.
Cold, hot, cold run the days until early October then its preparation for winter, which runs cold all the time.
Today, though, I will celebrate the last bits of summer with a nod to fall by sharing Emily Dickinson’s “Autumn.”
The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.
Instead of a trinket I will lounge out back in the hammock with another book.
Happy fall!
Happy Fall, Pam!
Thanks, George. I am hoping the recent good weather won’t leaf us too soon. 🍁
You described autumn perfectly. Love the poem.
Thanks! Emily D. is a marvel.
She is!
Such a lovely slice of Emily!
You reminded me of the way the weather changed throughout the day in September when I was a schoolkid. I always wanted to wear my new school outfit which was designed for late fall/winter, and in the mornign when it was chilly it was fine, but by 1PM I would sit there roasting in the classroom!
Now I live in Phoenix and it’s so hot I can’t even talk about it.
My Mom lived in Yuma year round and hoped I would love the desert as much as she did. Nope. I like my full complement of seasons.
I do get that. I miss Michigan quite often, especially in the fall, the late spring, and July.