Suddenly it is Autumn

“I love how the air changes…you can feel it, you can smell it, and suddenly it is autumn.”

Melody Lee

Autumn has arrived heralded by sunflowers. Every ditch is dressed with them. Every field is spread with them. They are a favorite with the fall lovers. Their sunny faces smile up at the sun. They are the color before the drab of winter. It is echoed by the sweet gum yellows. It is sung by the mulberry leaves fallen and ringing the trees. A yellow road through the aspens better than gold–soft and smelling sweet.

Sunflower! Yellow slices from a dreamy summer day sunshine buzzed by bees and honey coated. Banana yellow, lemon bright, butter yellow. Food for thought. Food for my soul.

Cling to each other. Dance in a troupe. Come and join the rejoicing. Autumn is here at last. Sing sunshine. Sing home. Your face is like a pin cushion studded with yellow pin heads. Gathered by color hungry hands you decorate the dinner table and bring promises to life. Promises of dandelions and gold finches to come again next year.

Smile up at the sky. Sing that autumn is come at last. Speak welcome to autumn. Speak of days to come soon cool and bright. Sing of snowfall and icy cold ahead. The promise of seasons brings us hope. We can count on it.

Climb the fences. Run through the fields. Sway at the roadside. Reflect the sunshine on their petals less each day. Soon the paths will be strewn with their soft dresses–all sizes and shades. The sunflower sings to the cooler nights and the windy fall days. Dancing in yellow dresses and shawls in the northerly wind.

Play like a child with the blue sky, the wind, and the raindrops. Stand tall and call out the news to every passerby. “Summer is over and the cool joy of fall is here.”

Push up toward the autumn sky. Drink in the September rain and the October coolness. Catch the dew and hold up a spiderweb. Your stem is spiked but soft. Dance in the wind and keep your face to the light.

Spread your petals like wings. Fly from summer to fall. Ripen and dry your seeds. The birds will be needing them all through the cold to come. Speak to my soul and I will talk back because I remember you and you make me smell apples and hear the creek running. You make me feel a chill and wish for a sweater to wrap my arms in. You make me want to go north and see the leaves turn their fall colors. You make me want a pumpkin to bake a pie. You make me long for a mug of hot sweet coffee.

Wave at me from the roadside. Nod your pretty heads. Announce the arrival of our longing–autumn. Here at long last.

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“This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24