Tuesday, September 16, 2008

autumn impressions

The sun is rising perceptibly later each day as the last days of summer give way to autumn. The fog that shrouded the full moon all night softens the early morning landscape.

Birches started giving up yellow leaves some time in the last week or two; now the maples flash scarlet here and there, a preview, a teaser.

In the road ditches, ferns stand crumpled and brown from frost. Goldenrods and blazing star are a whispered hush of their former hues, while asters give one last show of white and blue and purple.

The skies are full of activity as migrant birds make their way south. Among the golden leaves of the birch outside my window, warblers blend in with their muted yellows as they glean insects. Raucous threads of Canada geese ripple through the air. Sandhill cranes trumpet in their ancient voice, unseen as they soar with the thermals or rest and feed in fields.

Days fly by as I go about my human activities. I just want to pause, to gather in every moment of a golden September day so I can feel the warmth on my face on some gray winter day.

11 comments:

candoo49 said...

Beautiful post Deb , sheer poetry !

R.Powers said...

Sweetly done. I could feel it even though summer still rules here.

Anonymous said...

An amazing post Deb. That first photo is particularly stunning, and the prose matches it. Observant and lyrical. Well done!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Dang Deb!! That was perfect. Perfectly beautiful.

Deb said...

Bob- thanks. Glad to hear you're reading along here!

FC- I'm sure your autumn is slower and not nearly as drastic as around here. You'll probably get some of my birds in a few weeks.

Dharma Bum- And to think I let Calvin and Starflower have the bedrooms with that same sunrise view! :) I always appreciate your comments on my writing, because I know they're coming from someone who knows writing. Of course, constructive criticism is always welcome...I can take it...I think...:)

Lynne- Thanks! Can you tell I was having a boring day at work and my mind was on that sunrise and those sandhill cranes I saw on my way to work?

Anonymous said...

Deb, whatever you do, DO NOT STOP running or writing. You're blossoming!

Jayne said...

Beautiful thoughts expressed Deb. We do need to soak in these days for the long, coldness ahead.

troutbirder said...

Absolutely beautiful pictures and the adjectives were just right! Spouse and I may leave the banana belt here in Souther Minn. and head north next week for fall.
troutbirder

RuthieJ said...

My sumac and Virginia creeper are starting to turn brilliant red, so fall's approaching here in SE MN too. This was a beautifully written post Deb.

Anonymous said...

Deb - I appreciate you wanting constructive criticism and I'll try to provide it where I can, but I wouldn't change a single thing about this post.

Unknown said...

WOW! That first shot is amazing and the post speaks to our early days here too.