Thursday, October 06, 2005

October

Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)

October's Bright Blue Weather

O SUNS and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather;

When loud the bumble-bee makes haste,
Belated, thriftless vagrant,
And Golden-Rod is dying fast,
And lanes with grapes are fragrant;

When Gentians roll their fringes tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;

When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,
And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining;

When all the lovely wayside things
Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields, still green and fair,
Late aftermaths are growing;

When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,
Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods, for winter waiting;

When comrades seek sweet country haunts,
By twos and twos together,
And count like misers, hour by hour,
October's bright blue weather.

O suns and skies and flowers of June,
Count all your boasts together,
Love loveth best of all the year
October's bright blue weather.

5 comments:

Michelle said...

Omigosh!! I almost posted this poem Thursday, but found the "Yesterday" poem instead and changed the whole topic of my blog. And here it is on your blog today. Weird!

AND...we almost share a birthday. (Refer to Martie's post today)

Great poem, btw. :)

Rebecca said...

Autumn is by far, my favorite time of year. Thank you for posting that.... :)

clew said...

Lori, remember I told you my best friend's birthday was right next to yours? There she is, up above. :D

We all seem to agree, there's something magical about October!

Gleyes said...

My dear, sweet, faithful Lori - As always I love coming to your blog. It is balm for my soul. Your photos are magic and your words like a cool breeze is to a hot day. You calm this restless spirit...Love you, my Friend.

Lori said...

naive - My mother used to quote this poem often when I was a little girl, so it's been a part of my life from as far back as I can remember. I think our birthdays are just one day apart...mine is the 17th. Is that right? :-)

rebecca - Mine too! I love, love, love autumn. There is something so magical about it...

clew - I think we're all connected somehow...kindred spirits in the midst of October.

gleyes - always a word of kindness from you...and so appreciated. I'm glad I can bring calm into your life. I promise you won't always feel restless...