With the touch of the dawn, wrapped in a minor peace,
Hears through an open window the garden draw
Long pitch black breaths, lay bare its apple trees,
Ripe pear trees, brambles, windfall-sweetened soil,
Exhale rough sweetness against the starry slates.
Nearer the river sleeps St. John's, all toil
Locked fast inside a dream with iron gates.
Domestic Autumn, like an animal
Long used to handling by those countrymen,
Rubs her kind hide against the bedroom wall
Sensing a fragrant child come back again
- Not this half-tolerated consciousness
That plants its grammar in her yielding weather
But that unspeaking daughter, growing less
Familiar where we fell asleep together.
Wakeful moth wings blunder near a chair,
Toss their light shell at the glass, and go
To inhabit the living starlight. Stranded hair
Stirs on still linen. It is as though
The black breathing that billows her sleep, her name,
Drugged under judgement, waned and - bearing daggers
And balances - down the lampless darkness they came,
Moving like women : Justice, Truth, such figures."
Maybe not the most cheerful start to the day, but I have to say that I love autumn, and it is probably my favourite season: summer can be so stressful, with all that gadding about doing happy summer things (so much pressure) and disappointment when the weather doesn't behave itself; winter is cold and miserable and dark; while spring is often a washout and feels kind of grumpy, like it just couldn't be bothered. Autumn, however, is full of drama and proper weather and wonderful colours and cosiness - I don't have to feel guilty for watching tv in my pyjamas in the middle of the day. So I'm glad it's finally September - I can start drinking hot chocolate again, and I'll be able to wear my cardigan with the fleecy hood and squirrels on the front with pride (it's also got two pom-pom tassels, which really accentuate its business-like credentials). So, fare thee well, summer (well, officially you still have a couple of weeks left; autumn doesn't begin until the 22nd of September), and hello short evenings, open fires, and kicking up leaves! Saying all of that though, the weather might pick up and we could have a blisteringly hot September - if that happens I'll keep the squirrels in storage and make the most of the sunshine!