THE CYCLE OF SEASONS: AUTUMN

Will you join me as we experience the end of Autumn days, so mellow, so beautiful in death; in giving thanks for the Creator-given cycle of birth, burgeoning life, and now, a return to the earth from whence it all sprang?

                                                                        dulcetly

The winds come and comb the leaves 

from the sap-spent trees;

jewel-like leaves falling through our fingers.

                                                                                                               ghostnights

 We take long walks, enjoying the crunch

of those multi-colored leaves underfoot.

                                                                                                            seasonal-love

 Then return home and rake them into

brittle piles for the children to run and

jump into!

                                                                                      soulemama

The last of the apples 

are gathered in

                                                                                         weheartit

                                         for cider, pies, and crisps...

                                                                                            pumpkinseason

 and lovely, plump pumpkins lying amongst

their withered life-giving leaves, to be 

placed in cold cellars.

                                                                                                             thewholehalf

 The golden honey is gathered from the

combs, largesse freely given by 

the busy bees of summer.

                                                                                                             vintagehome

And just in time, for the Fall rains have

begun to drive us inside again... 

                                             JohnGalboPhotography

And because we, like the bees, have not been lazy,

but have stock-piled logs from the surrounding trees,

just waiting for the lighted match...

                                                                                   indiandreams

We can snuggle up in front of a nice, warm and

crackling fire that pours out a welcome

to our cold and weary bones.

                                                                                           dearposy

And because the larder shelves are groaning

with "summer in a jar", to be savored throughout

the non-productive months, we thank God for all

the bounty and the strength to put them by.

                                                cotton-balls

The squirrels, too, hasten to seek and bury 

their bounty, buried treasure 

whose location is known only to them 

throughout the long winter months.

                                  anaisdaxphotography

And in the warmth and comfort of our home 

we turn our hands to other activities:

preserving the colors and textures of nature

through paint and brush...

                                                                                coastalcottage

seeking the long ignored knitting basket

I now pull it close and finger the soft and fine

wool, soon to be shaped into something utilitarian.

                                                                                       pinterest

Or I may just throw another log onto the low dying fire,

plop into my overstuffed chair, and read words

that transport me to a warmer, sunnier clime;

ever thankful even so for the advancing, 

changing seasons as dependable 

as the ticking of the wall clock

down the hall.