THOUGHTS ON FALL

THOUGHTS ON FALL

ŠTOM WYOMING

FIRST FROST

Last night was the first frost of the year And to most it brought no cheer.

To some who hunt and spend a lot of Time outdoors, its was a boon! For it brings a new season to bear.

Got up this morning, everything was fine Looked out the window, at a gourd on the vine Alas, oh my, it was covered with rime! But all the other, little, gourds looked fine.

Looked at the thermometer and it wasn't So fine. The minimum temperature Had reached twenty-nine. Alas, summer is officially gone!

Went outside, the temperature Was fine, but a look at the impatiens And was quickly brought to mind. It definitely is the fall time.

But the tomato plants in their Buckets looked fine. Maybe The fence gave them time? The carrots, Oh my! A little frost they do mind.

The other flowers all around Looked as if they didn't Yet know it was fall time.

So a job was at hand. Bring the tomatoes inside So they will survive. And maybe my yearly cheer Of fresh tomatoes on New Years, Will be on the vine, And in line.

The sunny morning It is so neat today, And exudes a new charm. For fall is here You may as well cheer. Tis no need to jeer.

And surely before long, White flakes will be swirling And flying with zeal. On the hint that winter is near.

(TomWyo, Sep 13, 1999)

First Fall Day
Funny how one little event can change your thoughts and feelings. Just one little thing can do that, that is for darn sure! Woke up this morning and everything was fine. It seemed warm enough, and the sun was getting ready to shine. (Here on the edge of the plains we get more sunshine than most areas get rain. Yes, we get about 350 days a year of the bright yellow stuff. But enough bragging).
To the kitchen to make the coffee and get some fruit-- got to have fruit to survive-- and in order to read two papers and do crosswords, fruit is an essential mix. Looked out the East window to see if there were any clouds and how far south the sunrise had moved, for in wintertime, from this window no sun can be seen to rise! Next, I looked at the thermometer, and to my chagrin, the temperature stood at thirty-two, boo hoo! I immediately looked at my gourd vines, and worse, the leaves were covered with rime. But the little gourds looked fine.
After breakfast I went out to survey what time had inevitably brought. Hey the tomatoes were not dead, and most of the carrots were fine. The flowers had only been chilled. So, with this in mind, I checked my blackberry and raspberry vines, noticing that they, too, were fine. The little Maples from the old homestead, I saw, showed indications that they were getting ready to rest. As I walked around, I surveyed the birds, and saw they had much to say. The Robins were lined up awaiting their turn in the birdbath, which is at the edge of the patio. Many little birds sat on the phone lines. Heck everything was looking fine.
But when I decided to do some work, funny to say, the temperature seemed a little too cold. Oh heck, why not, I thought, but I'd wait awhile for the sun to warm everything up. And then it will be just another day, which was wrong, of course, but I did not know it at the time.
As the sun moved higher and warmed the ground, twas a funny feeling all around. Maybe funny is an incorrect word, but things felt different on this nice day. I seemed to move a little slower and take more time, as my body told me it was fall time. So in everything I did, I was slower to act and spent more time just looking around, enjoying the sun. Crazy, oh crazy it seems, but each year at about this time, I seem to start to unwind, to slow my pace, to drink in the environment, to enjoy the warmth, smell more flowers.
Oh heck I may as well confess: I am just a sentimental old coot who happens to love the fall.
By TOMWYO (Sept. 13, 1999)

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