In the morning breeze
willows along the riverbank
start to drop their leaves
into the flowing water-
autumn is arriving…
Otagaki Rengetsu
Tr. John Stevens
Grey clouds scud across the autumn sky and everywhere nature is preparing for the coming of winter. Summer birds have left for warmer climes, while those who overwinter here are arriving from even colder countries. Small animals are busy foraging and storing food for harder times, Atlantic salmon are at last running up home rivers searching out their ancient spawning grounds and native birds are settling-in, ready for the leaner months that are to come. And then eventually, after all of the comings and goings, there remain only those who will share the darker colder days of winter together with to us.
Autumn: turning seasons of the mind, and so in our lives there is autumn and spring, sadness and happiness, two emotions that define and depend upon one another. Without autumn there can be no spring; without sadness there is no happiness, so within each there lie’s the seeds of the other ready waiting to grow; when the time is right.
Claire Torrance published this lovely piece on her facebook page on 22nd August . . .
You can find some signs of activity, people have disposed of their unwanted furniture, and left rubbish behind. But beyond that, there's nothing but remote areas full of trees, overgrown nettles, thorn bushes. And where there aren't many people, it's abundant in nature! To the naked eye it may still look like some sort of wasteland? But I was following a roe deer along a marked passage way in the grass yesterday. The same place I once watched the fox cubs out playing one afternoon in June. The deer guided me towards a beige coloured bird flying from a tree . . . more plump than a pigeon? And it glared down at me with its massive black eyes (A tawny owl) before I managed to get my phone out, it had flew to a different perch, bobbing its head watching me curiously? All the wonders, in a place that gives of the wrong vibe at first glance? A wildlife haven of badger setts, fox dens, roe deer, damselflies, kingfishers, otters, etc..And it's why I just love sitting for hours on end witnessing it no matter where it is!! Isn't nature wonderful ??
One might call this "getting ready for the Autumn and Winter"