"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
John Updike, September
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
John Updike, September
I love September so much! It always feels like an exciting time to me - new beginnings, a foretaste of Autumn, a shifting of light. It probably stems back to the fact that I always loved school. New crayons (although back then we had the 8 crayon box in my family), new school supplies, a new uniform for parochial school, and a feeling of expectation.
I was the dorky shy kid who got good grades and lived for my teacher's praise. Later, I taught kindergarten and then second grade, and I think I was as excited then for the start of school as when I was a child. Oh, I know it's sad that summer is coming to an end and some people feel down when autumn approaches, and I feel bad for you. I wish you could feel the tingly sense of excitement that I have. Go smell some crayons and pencils, picture the gorgeous fall foliage to come and enjoy the change in the air!
Here's wishing everyone a Happy September!!
I love Autumn too Judy though I don't recall being so excited about going back to school. This is both the beginning and the end of the year for me so it does feel full of possibilities. Lovely poem too so thanks:)
ReplyDeletei too love september. i remember the smell of new shoes for school and the fresh new crayons. i enjoy summers, they are all to short but fall has to be my favorite. we could still have those new shoes and a box of crayons.
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell the crayons in your photo!
ReplyDeleteI love autumn, the colors, the crispness, the cooling temps...
I also love the fall- I remember reading Seventeen magazine from about the age of 12 (I have an older sister) while vacationing at the beach in August, and looking forward to the fall fashions- shoes, sweaters, that I would soon be wearing. Oh- football games, Halloween, loved it all. Except that part about going back to school! School supplies, and getting the books to cover on the first day, that was ok. Thinking about how much I might learn, that too was ok. But once reality set in...and when younger, I never cared for the smell of crayons. Maybe it goes back to my kindergarden teacher. She wasn't exactly the warm and fuzzy type. lol. wow, your post sure did bring back memories!
ReplyDelete