"AUTUMN"

AUTUMN

The nights are getting chilly,
There's a sharp nip in the morning air;
Autumn colors are beginning to be seen
Everywhere.
Oranges, browns, golds, dull reds,
Faded greens, muted yellows...
All around.

The sky here in the Southwest
Is Bright Blue,
With a few nice big fluffy white clouds
Left over from summer,
To make things seem friendlier.

The Harvest Moon has come and gone;
Indian Summer, always remembered as a
Warm and special time, has begun!
Nature will soon be buttoning up
For those cold winter months.  

One of the best things about Fall

In New Mexico: the green chile crop

Is ready!

You can smell chiles roasting 

Everywhere you go!

This delicious smell beings to mind, and palate

All kinds of tasty foods!

Tho' I've  lived thro' many an autumn,
I've never quite fathomed the mysteries
Of autumn light.
Its gentleness, its quietness---
It's almost like the sun has had a
Hard summer, and has let up a bit
And is resting, at two-thirds output.

Yes, and there is a nice warmness in the fall,
Not the full heat of summer.
Maybe this is why we love it:
Besides the colors, beauty, and freshness
Of the air,
There is a gentleness about autumn.

We need a gentleness in Life sometimes;
Maybe autumn is a good time for
Doing some musing...
About the Whys and Wherefores of things...
Of course, we will never know
Most of the answers, but---
In thinking, we'll be growing.

Fall is a good social time---
Picnics, football games, tailgating,
School homecomings, tearing down goalposts!
Scenic photo trips to the mountains,
Seeing smoke rising from little cabins
Nestled in their valleys up in the
High mountains.

North of Taos, looking south, a
Sheepherder and his sheep were
Blocking the highway one October day;
I got his picture with my Leica,
Printed it at home: "Sheepherder in Autumn!"

Soon a real "cold spell" will come.
As the Old Timers say:
A Norther---maybe a Blue One
With brisk winds, will clean the trees;
Chased by the wind, leaves of all
Shapes and colors, will be dancing along,
On their merry way, happy to be traveling
Somewhere---
Rattling along curbs, down streets,
Piling up on lawns, and against fences...
Tumbleweeds from vacant lots
Will join them!

The tomato vines are gone now,
Another growing season is over.
And the year is passing away.
Let's put out a Jack O' Lantern
And some Halloween decorations!

Time to have the chimney cleaned,
Bring some ready wood onto the patio.
We need to get our "throw quilts" out
For each easy chair, and one for the
Foot of the bed.

One of these cold nights, we'll
Build a fire in the old fireplace...
Maybe put on a pot of
Good-smellin' coffee...
Have a hot bowl of Chili and cornbread...
Or some breakfast-type food, like
Bacon, eggs, grits, and waffles...
Eat on TV trays, and read a good book,
Or find an old Andy of Mayberry Show!

Autumn!
Cozy times are here!
The Earth is a Nice Place!
Life is Good!

Tomorrow, we'll go out and
Breathe that cool fall air,
And enjoy the Colors...
One more time.

                                     "Sheepherder in Autumn" 
                                    Photo by Mil Moore, 1969

********30*******
BY MIL
10/04/12

(For Dear Friends, Judy H. and Harold V., who are recuperating.)


Sent from my iPad