Autumn glory in the garden

Wednesday

“No melancholy days are these!
Not where the maple changing stands,
Not in the shade of fluttering oaks,
Nor in the bands

Of twisting vines and sturdy shrubs,
Scarlet and yellow, green and brown,
Falling, or swinging on their stalks,
Is Sorrow’s crown.

The sparkling fields of dewy grass,
Woodpaths and roadsides decked with flowers,
Starred asters and the goldenrod,
Date Autumn’s hours.

The shining banks of snowy clouds,
Steadfast in the aerial blue,
The silent, shimmering, silver sea,
To Joy are true.

My spirit in this happy air
Can thus embrace the dying year,
And with it wrap me in a shroud
As bright and clear!”

Elizabeth Drew Stoddard

I should have taken this at breakfast time, while the early morning sun was accenting the beautiful colours of autumn. Unfortunately, I put it off, thinking I would put my shoes on and go out after my coffee, and within the hour, the rain had moved in! It rained on and off all day, though not particularly hard. The beginning of this poem seemed particularly appropriate, since we have a maple and an oak tree in the garden! Roger had a meeting first thing, and then we both went to the “Y” for our exercise - swimming for me, gym for Roger. The pool was as busy as I’ve seen it lately - I had to share a lane to start with. The afternoon was rather unproductive, largely taken up with boring phone calls. The damp weather didn’t deter the trick or treaters, who arrived in fair numbers. Luckily, the supply of goodies just lasted out, leaving us with a few to finish off , but not too many!