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Brown? Gray? The sun managed to peek through the gray for a few moments. Just long enough to signal the beginning of the day with a soft golden glow which set off the now barren branches of a tall oak and put a sparkle to the frost on a tall pine. Then the clouds drew a curtain over the sky and the day turned gray. Once again I have been reading Hal Borland and he suggests these autumnal days are brown. Perhaps where he lived but here they are frost-bleached gray. The seed heads of the goldenrod are gray, the tall sedge are a silvered beige, the milkweed pod gray and white, the meadow grass, remaining leaves and even the rocks are coated with gray frost which has no sparkle since the sun is imprisoned behind the clouds. We had errands to do but escaped for a short time to drive northward along the Delaware River looking for the last glories of Autumn, before the predicted rain and snow showers of tomorrow send the last of the leaves cascading from the trees to the ground.
We found some color still blazing along the river’s edge, the ground is covered with a deep carpet of colorful leaves. Still beautiful, a few remaining scarlet and gold maples and a steadfast red oak stand watch over a bleached meadow; Hidden deep under the leaves of an ancient apple tree we find small green apples. American Bittersweet vines trail from a large red oak, A late warbler flits through the trees, his elusive call tantalizing but leaving us disappointed when we are unable to locate his hidden perch. It's mornings like this;
The stingy sun trying to hold back
Even the warmth of its reflection
Flashing coldly In the lake.
When November leaves drop in sudden gusts,
Like a red and yellow flock of birds
Swooping at once to ground.
Or even nights:
When winds reach wet hands
To take you spinning with random paper
Down back street gutters, under straining bridges
To clogged rivers.
It's this:
The time of year, along with spring,
When poets must take care
Not to sing the same old songs
Stolen from tribal memory.
- Thomas R. Drinkard Shortly after we arrived home the sun went behind the hills a misty rain began. We hear the drops splatter as they fall through the leaves and the sighing of the wind as it moves through the trees. Winter is on its way.

posted by Endment at 10:58 PM dinzie said...

Beautiful pictures ... you certainly have the 'eye' :O)
 mm said...

Such an atmospheric, evocative post, Endment. Here, winter is definitely grey while autumn remains russet,gold and brown. But it sounds as if your autumns are much more severe than ours - we haven't really had a frost yet ......

I like that Drinkard poem very much.
 
Lovely, always lovely, every time I visit here. Thanks!
 
Oh thank you! thank you! for the stroll through frosty gray, the perfect illustrative pictures, and the poem by Drinkard.

You weave an elegant, poignant tapestry.
 
welcome to my blog. I just spent a delighted hour visiting your blog and I will return very soon

so glad to see you are blogging again - you have been missed!!!

thanks for stopping by - love that Red-wing blackbird flying over the meadow that you just posted

thanks for the encouragement I am looking forward to spending more time at your blog also
 
Lovely lovely photos. They just capture so perfectly the aura of these golden autumnal days.
 
The spots of color you found on this gray day are lovely. I especially like the berries.
 
Those grey, autumn days are a delight and you have brought out their charm oh so beautifully! Exquisite photos. It makes me want autumn back! And the poem is a beauty!
 
endment, as i read your words and look at your photos, a delicious shiver runs through my body in anticipation for winter that is about to arrive here as well.

stay cozy and warm, my friend!

 
That second photo just looks like it has come from another planet! Amazing!
 
More beautiful, stunning photo's!!
Wonderful word's...
Bringing a smile everytime I visit!
You remind me that November is a beautiful month also!!
 
Don't know how I managed to leave here yesterday without leaving a comment. Maybe I was just too entranced.
 
oh, endment, you never disappoint. such lovely photographs and meaningful words. thank you.

about winter being on the way...if you could have seen me this evening you would have been totally convinced! i had on long pants under my long nightgown, 2 bathrobes (one a wrap-around the other a zip up), wool socks, a small microfiber blanket and a heated throw set to medium heat! i got chilled outside planting bulbs with hubby on a very windy pacific northwest afternoon and just could not seem to warm up!

winds today are going to be around 35-40 mph among very stormy skies.
 
All the shades of brown and gray have their own quiet sort of beauty, too. Love that poem.
 
thanks for your comment - autumn is rapidly disappeaing around here

no rain
I also like the berries - I take lots of photos of the berries - the bright colors warm my soul as well as attracting the birds

this week - I would trade places if I could - I want some warmth and some flowers :)

we had a sprinkle of snow this morning but it changed to rain - I will be happy when we have made the transition to snow :)

thanks- never know what these cameras can capture now days :)

glad to leave you with smiles

glad you came to visit
by the way I am sending more cheers your way

thanks for the encouragement.
I know what you mean my ensemble for this evening is very similar to yours.

the world is so beautiful - it is fun to share - sure wish I could have gone out with you last weekend.
 
Lovely words and photos, lovely!
 
Absolutely beautiful pictures, I particularly like the bittersweet.
 
Oh Endment, your images and reflections are too beautiful for words - it was a lovely experience to be there and walking along with you. Thank you!!!
 joared said...

Thanks for your descriptive words which create mental images of those autumn days I especially treasure. The photos delightfully enhance your written language.
 
Oh, this is a lovely post, endment. I think you picked out some of the prettiest sights of this time of year.
I admire your artist's eye.
 
Hi Endment,

On reading the Drinkard poem again, I've found that last line so provocative. Do you have a 'take' on it?

Is he implying that there are timeless, univeral emotions evoked by these seasons of birth and death and that the poet may be carried away by them? Thus one " must take care not to sing. . . "

It's such a lovely poem - I couldn't help but to drift a little more in its ripples:0)
 
Love your pictures and narratives!
 
oh your photos are so utterly lovely, I am particularly partial to milkweed, or as I like to call it, wish pods . .

 SLW said...

You discovered so much color on a gray day... thanks for sharing fall!



