Mellow Fruitfulness

One my book club ladies (their official title) spends half the year in Minnesota and half the year in California.  Since she is from California and her husband is from Minnesota, this is not a bad arrangement.  She mentioned that they would be leaving in about three weeks, and I could not help asking, “How can you go before the leaves have changed?”

Now, according to the newspaper (which is never wrong), the fall colors will actually peak this weekend.  They do not seem to have done so in Litchfield, but I’m sure they will before these snowbirds head west for the winter.  They will get to enjoy at least a little fall.

But still.  I can’t imagine missing any of this glorious season, which Keats so stirringly describes in the aptly titled “Ode to Autumn”.  Here are a few of my favorite lines (the Internet will help you find the whole poem if you’d like to read it–and you should):

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-eaves run;

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, –

Welcome, season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.  Season of pumpkins, and cider, and mini donuts.  Season of bright leaves, and crunchy leaves, and rustling leaves.  Season of sweaters and fleece and brisk wind.  Season of harvest and plenty and pie.  Stick around a while, won’t you?