I know I’ve been writing about autumn ever since it turned from August to September, but with it having been such a lovely summer, I have hoped it would also be a lovely autumn. It seems late this year, just six days ago we were sitting out in glorious sunshine, sleeves rolled up, shorts turned up trying to get the last little bit of a tan! People were sitting with sunglasses on, drinking cold beers, relaxing and happy under the cloudless sky. Even if the evening was a little chilly, we walked back without jackets…. and now I think it really is autumn!
To Autumn
O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stainèd
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.`The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather’d clouds strew flowers round her head.`The spirits of the air live on the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.’
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden loadby William Blake
Lois Elsden 