Sunday, October 19, 2014

Autumn Winds


In spring the winds blow up from the south, shepherding warmth to the coldest regions. In autumn, quite the opposite. Down from the north they sweep like cleansing brooms, pushing into every crevice, scooting the leafy remnants of summer into the center of the yard before flinging them to the four corners. Autumn’s winds are high winds, bully winds. They push through the clouds, scattering them, then swoop down to shake the trees, spinning multicolored leaves in spirals or great golden bursts.

There’s a distinct coolness underlying the winds of October even when they blow the warmth of the sun directly in your face. On them you can detect a hint of bitterness, of ice, and through them you can hear summer calling farewell from the treetops. Wood smoke and a faint hint of leather are borne on these winds. The cries of the geese travel on them, and the haunting sound of the hunting owl.


Autumn winds are not lullabies, as summer winds tend to be; they seek instead to push, to harry, to agitate. They are pillaging winds, forces of change that can stroke your cheek with warmth one moment and slap it the next with a hard, cold hand. The seasonal wheel turns, the winds blow. Autumn’s balance of August heat and November frost will give way to January’s shivery cold but for now the winds play both sides of the game, blowing warm one day, cold the next. It will be a long time before they speak again of spring.

Thanks, Hilary!

8 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

I enjoyed this, I have a hard time staying indoors during this time of year.

Tabor said...

Spring winds are different from autumn winds...yes.

Hilary said...

You know her well.. this season of change. Nicely written, Pauline. As always.

Brian Miller said...

oh i felt the coolness of that sweeping today...ha the temp sure dropped over night....but i like the crisp feel of it...

Anonymous said...

Wonderful description...but I have to admit, I still love those autumn winds best! (Maybe by the end of winter, even as mild as ours are, I'll say I prefer the spring wind, though. :) )

Friko said...

Late October winds, the winds that sweep around the corners of the house right now, have nothing gentle about them. Harsh, driving cold rains before them, they are only too ready to chase me into shelter.

And I am glad to obey.

Pauline said...

Me, too OOTP!

Tabor, they both sweep the earth clean, though :)

Thank you, Hilary.

Brian - the cold is coming more frequently now, though next week we will see temperatures in the 70s again!

Barbara - I love any wind (so long as it's not blowing me away).

Friko - I love those hounding, driving winds!

ds said...

"Autumn winds are not lullabies." No. You have described them beautifully. Thank you. And congratulations on your POTW!