Sunday, September 10, 2006

Fall-ing

The Apple Tree
- Dorothy Parker
When first we saw the apple tree
The boughs were dark and straight,
But never grief to give had we,
Though Spring delayed so late.

When last I came away from there
The boughs were heavy hung,
But little grief had I to spare
For Summer, perished young.


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I feel strongly about the last line this year. Summer slipped away so quickly. Living in the northeast, we feel the seasons. I always wondered what it'd be like to live in a place without drastic seasonal changes, like FL or AZ. I don't think I would miss the seasons. I thrive in the sunshine and warmth.

Fall, albeit beautiful in its colors, is very grim to me. We're finding beauty in its decay. The smells of autumn we cherish are only the fallen leaves mixing back to the earth. It's almost as if it's a last exciting show before the curtain falls. Then the theatrical crew cleans up and leaves the stage bare, revealing its harsh structures.

The weather today is in the 80's and there is still much green on the trees. Because we live in the northeast, we treasure our time with summer as long as she'll stay for us. While I love warm weather, I also love the vibrant greenery and lushness my state has to offer.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I lived in California people asked me if I missed the seasons.
I didn't.

Anonymous said...

Fall, albeit beautiful in its colors, is very grim to me. We're finding beauty in its decay. The smells of autumn we cherish are only the fallen leaves mixing back to the earth. It's almost as if it's a last exciting show before the curtain falls. Then the theatrical crew cleans up and leaves the stage bare, revealing its harsh structures.

Hmm... you are almost painting with words. Philosophical too. In the youth driven culture we have created for ourselves, it is rare to find lines such as, "we are finding beauty in its decay."

nice...
//

Anonymous said...

Thanks Prop!

I need to change this into a poem. I didn't have time to elaborate though so I left it as prose.

Anonymous said...

Fall is my favorite season. I have so many memories attached to it. For some spring is renewal, for me Fall is renewal when the trees shed their skin and are then cleansed in white snow for a while before they come back to life. Fall has always been attached to a lot of falling off dead skin in my own life so it always holds a special place in my heart. I saw my first red leaf today, it was 56 this morning when I walked to work and I knew the season of my hopes and dreams has begun.

Anonymous said...

Jane,
I never thought of fall that way. I suppose September and the idea of going back to school, starting a new year gives that sense of having a fresh start.

By the way, I went to the park on Sunday and in the middle of all the green trees, there was one that was 75% orange and red. I wanted to shout, "Go away!" :-)

Anonymous said...

i used to dread the arrival of autumn, now i welcome the change of season, the pace. summer always seems to go faster every year. for me , autumn is the start of a slower time, more structure with back to school routines. i love the coolness in the air letting me know i can start hibernating soon !