Thursday, October 02, 2008

TO AUTUMN


The Joy of a Falling Leaf by Arthur Rackham



To Autumn


Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.


John Keats (1795-1821)

11 comments:

Betsy Brock said...

I just love that picture! And your music is always so beautiful...like fairies dancing!...or leaves! :)

Lavinia said...

Ahhhhh, I love this poem. Robbie Burns has a good one about autumn too....

Your image is a balm for the eyes and senses....so whimsical and wistful....

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Keats. One of the best.

Kelli said...

Hi Rebecca, the photo of Lizzie on your sidebar is so sweet! I'm wondering who took the photo - because who ever Lizzie is looking at I see nothing but love in her eyes!

'To Autumn' is beautiful, thanks for sharing it with us Rebecca! Every season has it's song...I like that thought!

Hugs,
Kalianne

Tess Kincaid said...

This Keats' poem is perfect to welcome my favorite month of the entire year!

Glad you and Mr. Oldman enjoyed yourselves at the Ball. I haven't had such fun in ages!

Rebecca said...

Oh...Thank you Betsy and Lavinia...Arthur Rackham is perhaps my favorite illustrator and the poem really jumped out at me on a very crisp October morning...

Rebecca said...

Pamela, he was such a talent...


Kalianne, I wish I could take credit for taking that picture but the lady from the Sheltie Rescue took it. I was on the couch watching the morning news and she came up to me and put her head on the sofa and just looked at me lovingly with those beautiful brown eyes. She can make your heart melt.

Rebecca said...

Willow, this poem reminded me of something you would like...

Thank you again for such a great Cyber Ball experience. You should definitely make that an annual event. What fun!...My feet are still throbbing from all that dancing..

Kelli said...

Dear Rebecca, she is a beautiful girl - I understand how she captured your heart! Have a lovely weekend dear friend.
~Kalianne

steviewren said...

At this rate it will be mid November before Autumn arrives here. Enjoy it if you've got it!

G said...

Beautiful poem, and I love the Arthur Rackham. Just magical illustrations.