Tuesday, October 10, 2017 by lifeonthecutoff
October 10
Now constantly there is the sound,
quieter than rain,
of the leaves falling.
Under their loosening bright
gold, the sycamore limbs
bleach whiter.
Now the only flowers
are beeweed and aster, spray
of their white and lavender
over the brown leaves.
The calling of a crow sounds
Loud — landmark — now
that the life of summer falls
silent, and the nights grow.
From New Collected Poems by Wendell Berry
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This poem describes Autumn perfectly.
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I thought it did as well, Janet. Thanks for stopping by.
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My trees aren’t naked yet! Like me, they’re putting up a fight. And what a pretty flower!
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Ours aren’t as yet but they are working at getting there. Thank you.
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I love this poem! The description that comes through in “now that the life of summer falls silent, and the nights grow” pleases me. So often October 10th in California just doesn’t match the autumn pictures found in poetry! But these words fit. I can feel summer falling silent and the nights do grow! Lovely poem, Penny.
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Oh, Debra, I’m so happy that this works for you as October arrives differently for you. I have kept this poem in abeyance for a whole year, waiting for October 10 return. 🙂 Thank you.
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Beautiful poem! Thanks for sharing, Penny. Have a great day!
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You are very welcome, Jill.
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So true, Penny. The night feels longer and less soft. Thank you for posting this!
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Each day dark comes a little earlier and lights go on sooner. Sigh. Still, I love October. You are welcome, L. Marie.
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But a beautiful poem, thank you for posting it Penny. The mornings are cooler here in California and the nights are longer .
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You are very welcome, Gerlinde. Sweaters are employed in so many areas come Autumn. I just wish the days were a little longer, but, gives us time to turn inward for awhile.
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Beautiful Penny. This lovely poem and your images brought me peace at the end of the day; just what I needed.
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the sound of leaves falling – I forgot to say, but I thought immediately of your ‘plop’ post. In the stillness of autumn, there is time for attentiveness to the more subtle sounds of nature. You and Wendell Berry are both tuning in.
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Thank you for both comments, Juliet. I have kept this poem in abeyance for just this point in time. It is so evocative of autumn. Oh, yes indeed – those subtle sounds of nature; something you are attentive to as well. I am so happy that this brought you peace at the end of your day. May that peace continue.
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It’s a wonderful time of year … this month is the only seasonal transition we experience nowadays and I’m reveling in every falling leaf…. while we can. Perfect timing on your part for sharing this beautiful poem and your photos perfectly illustrate it.
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Much thanks, Sallie, and so happy to hear you are “reveling in every falling leaf”. We are not having much color here, though it was brilliant as I travelled home from up north, but, the leaves are falling rapidly now and days so much shorter.
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