I love the fitful gusts that shakes
The casement all the day
And from the mossy elm tree takes
The faded leaf away
Twirling it by the window-pane
With thousand others down the lane
I love to see the shaking twig
Dance till the shut of eve
The sparrow on the cottage rig
Whose chirp would make believe
That spring was just now flirting by
In summers lap with flowers to lie
I love to see the cottage smoke
Curl upwards through the naked trees
The pigeons nestled round the coat
On dull November days like these
The cock upon the dung-hill crowing
The mill sails on the heath a-going
The feather from the ravens breast
Falls on the stubble lea
The acorns near the old crows nest
Fall pattering down the tree
The grunting pigs that wait for all
Scramble and hurry where they fall
by John Clare
I love this reflection of Autumn and the images it conjures in the mind, as we are indeed immersed in the midst of it all. I notice how I feel as the seasons change with such significance of temperature, light and colour. It’s a time for long walks wrapped up in warm clothes, crunching through dried fallen leaves. A time for candles as we invite the dark into our homes and induce a sense of hygge as we light the first fires of the season. It’s a time for first frosts in the early morning and our secret breath now made visible before us in swirling vapours.
How good it feels to be mindful at these times. To be able to expand our awareness of impermanence and all that changes in this moment.
May you enjoy all Autumn brings.
Warm wishes
Jacky