October's Bright Blue Weather

Ever since Autumn began this year, I have been carrying my camera with me, wanting to capture some glorious fall color. For awhile I was disappointed, catching only a glimpse here and there - a bit of yellow, a touch of orange, a sprinkling of crimson.

Then, this week, I saw what I was looking for as I drove by a lakeside cemetery on my way home. I parked, and entered into a sanctuary of color and late afternoon light. It was a very moving experience to walk beneath this canopy of ancient trees with their golden leaves shimmering above me.
I posted one of my photos on Facebook, and a friend commented that it reminded her of a poem she had learned in grammar school, "October's Bright Blue Weather" by Helen Hunt Jackson.

I love the poem and I wanted to share it with my readers. Thank you Claire!

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October’s bright blue weather.

When loud the humblebee makes haste,

Belated, thriftless vagrant,

And Golden-Rod is dying fast,

And lanes with grapes are fragrant;

When Gentians roll their fringes tight

To save them for the morning,

And chestnuts fall from satin burrs

Without a sound of warning;

When on the ground red apples lie

In piles like jewels shining,

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

Of woods, for winter waiting;

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.

                                                                                                    Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)

Hope you're enjoying a wonderful weekend!