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| There's nothing so beautiful as a rose. |
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| That's Billy the fish in the background (opposed to Billy the boy). |
And with a heavy heart I see just round the corner winter coming. I so much prefer the light to the shade. The warmth to the cold. The long days to the short. So late in the year these special sunny days are like priceless gifts, they are to be treasured. They hearten the soul and the memories of them will have to last until Spring.
As others say it so much better than I can do, I'm going to share with you some quotations and poems that have particularly touched me about this time of year. If you have your own and you would be willing to share them, please comment, I'd love to read them.
"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
"I know the year is dying,
Soon the summer will be dead.
I can trace it in the flying
Of the black crows overhead;
I can hear it in the rustle
Of the dead leaves as I pass,
And the south wind's plaintive sighing
Through the dry and withered grass.
Ah, 'tis then I love to wander,
Wander idly and alone,
Listening to the solemn music
Of sweet nature's undertone;
Wrapt in thoughts I cannot utter,
Dreams my tongue cannot express,
Dreams that match the autumn's sadness
In their longing tenderness."
- Mortimer Crane Brown, Autumn Dreams
...... The following one is particular pertinent to us here, as we are surrounded by trees.
"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
- George Cooper, October's Party
