Each year when October arrives I
am reminded of this poem, which I committed to memory in grade school.
Today – the first day of October –
does not conform to the sentiments expressed here (rain and possible
storms are predicted), but I know the rain will soon give way to the
beautiful weather and the feelings generated by this poem.
October’s Bright Blue Weather
by Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October’s bright blue weather.
When loud the bumblebee makes
haste,
Belated, thriftless vagrant,
And Golden-Rod is dying fast,
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;
When on the ground red apples lie
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
When comrades seek sweet country
haunts,
By two and two 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.
Hello Sanda
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem and such great images too.
Just lovely
Helenxx
Thank you Helen. This little poem is so special to me. And I do love October so much. I would imagine you are beginning to see serious leaf color in your area by now?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem and I enjoyed the pictures you used to illustrate it. Don't know that I have ever seen Gentian growing. I always think of it in terms of paint, gentian blue.
ReplyDeleteDarla
What a different October you have over there. Sigh. The blue skies, the flowers..
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely post, the poem, the pictures.
And the best is yet to come, as our leaves aren't full of color just yet. We normally have warmish weather the entire month, at least in the daytime. Sometimes the nights get very cool and we usually have a first frost by the end of the month. Love October!
DeleteBeautiful! Let's hope for those blue skies today - hope yesterday is not an indication of how the month will go even though we really needed the rain.
ReplyDeleteGood job Sis!
We didn't quite make it today; hope for tomorrow. Needed the rain but I'm so ready for sunshine again. Thanks!
DeleteOctober is dismal,thick grey clouds pouring HARD with rain all day,forecast more to come!!
ReplyDeleteYour photos really cheered me up,no sign of conkers yet.did the boys have conker fights in your part of the world?
The poem really captures the true feel of October.
May your October be filled with many good things.ida
Wishing sunshine and a dry Wednesday for you. I am not familiar with the conkers you mentioned. I looked it up and found a picture. It looks like what we call "buckeyes," but the write-up said it's a horse chestnut. Have never heard of that game, but read that it is played in the New England states. I have learned something new!
DeleteAnd wishing you a great October as well, Ida!