October
by Robert Frost
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.
Oh, beautiful! I wasn't familiar with this poem, and I love it. Thanks for sharing. And your header is such a lovely October image.
ReplyDeleteI like Robert Frost
ReplyDeleteThanks Nan
Jenclair and Val, I just love how he doesn't want it to go too fast. That tree in the header is already different from a few days ago. An hour in October looks different from an hour just before.
ReplyDeleteThis is a NEW one to me, too! And yes, an hour DOES make a difference in October! I finally quit taking pictures of the maple in front of our house! It seemed everytime I looked out the window at it, it had changed colors. Actually, it was more the way the sunlight hit (or DIDN'T hit) it...
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem, Nan. Thank you for posting it. October, for me is such a transitional month. The slower is goes, the better.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem. I love Robert Frost!
ReplyDeleteRebecca, wouldn't it be fun one year to take a picture of the same tree at the same time of day for the whole month?! I'd love to see that. I did this once with a particular area of my yard, and I was so pleased with how it showed the year passing. Wait, I'll go find the link...
ReplyDeletehttp://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2007/03/morning-gardens.html
Yvette, transitional is such a good word.
Sherri, I do too. He says so much in his poems.
Oh this has always been one of my very favorite.
ReplyDeleteBeguile us in the way you know and release one leaf at break of day at noon release another leaf....so New England autumn...to wish for it to be slower.
I love that poem. This is so perfect with how I feel about October.
ReplyDeleteHip Chick, I know. Isn't that just so perfect.
ReplyDeleteStaci, I would guess you have much the same color out there.
We spent the day on top of Mt Ascutney and I read this poem to the girls.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I memorized this to recite for a class, and it still sticks in my mind, fresh and rich each time:
ReplyDeleteThe crows above the forest call,
Tomorrow they may form and go . . .
Just getting my tongue around the sounds makes me slow down and savor it. A beautiful example of sound and sense. Thank you for reminding me!
YOU are back.
ReplyDeletethank you.
lovely view of your house.
Sarah, that's amazing.
ReplyDeleteJ.G., it is great to read a poem aloud for that very reason.
Bonnie, this is such a beautiful time of year.
Nan,
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely poem for October! Frost just gets it, doesn't he. My favorite line is -
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Fall is all about the light for me. OK, maybe not all. There's also the crispness to the air, and wonderful aroma of apples and woodsmoke and damp earth and glorious trees and...But,once the summer solstice has happened I mentally chant to myself "yay, the darkness is coming, the darkness is winning". I am so NOT a summer person!
Thanks for sharing this delightful poem. I must go dip into my volume of Frost.
MizB (the one is Florida)
That Robert really knew how to write a word or two. I love this poem. I hadn't read it before. This time of year is beguiling indeed. I saw a vineyard yesterday that had been touched by frost.
ReplyDeleteMizB, that is exactly how I feel. I find it so comforting when the days get shorter. And yet some people begin getting depressed in June after the solstice.
ReplyDeleteLisa, did you take a picture? Sounds beautiful. I've never seen a vineyard.
What a beautiful poem, I love it. I've always enjoyed Robert Frost's poems. This one is perfect. Thanks for sharing it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is really wonderful, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this Frost poem and it is perfect for the October we recently left! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI have gotten behind on blog reading because it's hard while on a roadtrip and tonight I have a good connection and am feasting on your beautiful posts. Thanks for sharing.
Sallie, and I thank you for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Cork Ireland. Thank you for continuing on with your beautiful blog. It gives me comfort and joy as well as being highly etertaining. Robert Frost and Patrick Kananagh are my favorite poets. Laura.
ReplyDeleteLaura, thank you so very much for your kind words. If you look under the blog header picture and click on the tab, Poems, you'll find Raglan Road.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this poem and have quoted from it many times; I adore Frost's writing.
ReplyDeleteNancy, I do, too.
ReplyDelete