A Book of the Seasons: October 15.

October 15
The first snow falling.
Large flakes begin to whiten
our thoughts for winter.
October 15, 1852

As ground begins to
whiten our thoughts begin to
prepare for winter.
October 15, 1852

 

Last night the first frost – 

ice formed and the ground is white 

long after sunrise.

And now, how the leaves 

come down in showers when the 

morning wind rises. 

They suddenly form

thick beds just the size and form 

of the tree above. 

October 15, 1853

morning wind rises–

the leaves come down in showers

after this first frost

How the leaves come down
in showers after frost when 

morning wind rises.
October 15, 1853

Leaves suddenly form
thick beds just the size and form
of the tree above.
October 15, 1853

Hornets’ nests exposed,

the maples now being bare,
but the hornets gone.
October 15, 1855

Large fleets of leaves
floating on the calm water
full of reflections.
October 15, 1856

The sugar maples
show unexpectedly bright
and delicate tints.
October 15, 1857

White birches are still
a soft yellow seen against
the greener forest.
October 15, 1858

Standing here, you see 

the red regiments of oaks 

lit up by the sun.

October 15, 1859  

*****

Last night the first smart frost that I have witnessed. Ice formed under the pump, and the ground was white long after sunrise. October 15, 1853

A smart frost, which even injured plants in house. Ground stiffened in morning; ice seen.  October 15, 1856 

And now, when the morning wind rises, how the leaves come down in showers after this touch of the frost! They suddenly form thick beds or carpets on the ground in this gentle air, — or without wind, — just the size and form of the tree above.  October 15, 1853

There has been a great fall of leaves in the night on account of this moist and rainy weather.  October 15, 1857 

The water is very calm and full of reflections. Large fleets of maple and other leaves are floating on its surface as I go up the Assabet, leaves which apparently came down in a shower with yesterday morning's frost. October 15, 1856.

White pines are in the midst of their fall. October 15, 1858

Go to look for white pine cones, but see none.  October 15, 1855

 The chickadees are hopping near on the hemlock above. They resume their winter ways before the winter comes. October 15, 1856

The chickadees sing as if at home. They are not travelling singers hired by any Barnum. Theirs is an honest, homely, heartfelt melody. Shall not the voice of man express as much content as the note of a bird? October 15, 1859

We row across Fair Haven in the thickening twilight and far below it, steadily and with out speaking. October 15, 1851

As the night draws on her veil, the shores retreat; we only keep in the middle of this low stream of light; we know not whether we float in the air or in the lower regions.  October 15, 1851

The reflections of the stars in the water are dim and elongated like the zodiacal light straight down into the depths,October 15, 1851

It is pleasant not to get home till after dark, October 15, 1851 

 The first snow is falling in large flakes, filling the air and obscuring the distant woods and houses, as if the inhabitants above were emptying their pillow-cases. The ground begins to whiten, and our thoughts begin to prepare for winter. October 15, 1852

Standing on this hilltop this cold and blustering day, when dark and slate-colored clouds are flitting over the sky, the beauty of the scenery is enhanced by the contrast in the short intervals of sunshine. . . . standing here, you see far in the horizon the red regiments of oaks alternately lit up by the sun and dimmed by the passing shadow of a cloud. As the shadows of these cold clouds flit across the landscape, the red banners of distant forests are lit up or disappear like the colors of a thousand regiments. October 15, 1859

A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau
"A book, each page written in its own season,
out-of-doors, in its own locality."

~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2019