The very name is a contradiction. The tenth month of the year clings to its ancient numerical title of the eighth month (as it’s successors November and December similarly continue to be 2 steps out in this nominal game.)
Poets have written much about October and their verse paints an equally varied and complex picture.
To begin with Swinburne writes:-
. October of the tawny crown,
. Whose heavy-laden hands drop down
. Blessing, the bounties of thy breath
. And mildness of thy mellowing might
. Fill earth and heaven with love and light
. Too sweet for fear to dream of death
. Or memory, while thy joy lives yet,
. To know what joy would fain forget.
in his poem A Year’s Carols http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/1972-Algernon-Charles-Swinburne-A-Year-s-Carols
Whilst Paul Hamilton Hayne writes:-
. The passionate summer's dead! the sky's aglow
. With roseate flushes of matured desire,
. The winds at eve are musical and low,
. As sweeping chords of a lamenting lyre,
in his poem simply called October http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/35092-Paul-Hamilton-Hayne-October
George Barker seems to encapsulate the changeable quality of the month in his verse:-
. apples on the tree,
. the Partridge in the Wood and
. the big winds at sea,
. the mud beginning in the lane
. the berries bright and red
. and the big tree wildly
. tossing its old head.
taken from his poem January Jumps About http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/6129-George-Barker-January-Jumps-About
For followers of the great God Bacchus October is the month of so many fine brews be they wine, brandy, beer or any of the other intoxicating beverages man has created over the centuries.
Theodore Storm writes:-
. But pour us wine, an old one!
. That we may turn this dreary day
. To golden; yes, to golden!
When he instructs us
. Wait but a little while yet,
. Spring will be here,
In his wonderful poem A Song in October http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/27069-Theodor-Storm-A-Song-In-October
Hilaire Belloc also urges us to :-
. pour the Gascon stuff that laughs at weather;
in his poem Month of October http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/7599-Hilaire-Belloc--Month-of--October
Other poets remind us of the culinary treats in store as the newly harvested ingredients are utilised in wonderfully warming dishes such as The Hasty Pudding
. My morning incense, and my evening meal,
. The sweets of Hasty Pudding. Come, dear bowl,
. Glide o'er my palate, and inspire my soul.
As described in John Barlow’s poem of that name http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/35499-Joel-Barlow-The-Hasty-Pudding
By far the most common theme of poets over the years has been the October weather. William Wilfred Campbell writes :-
. The woods are haggard and lonely,
. The skies are hooded for snow,
. The moon is cold in Heaven,
. And the grasses are sere below.
in his poem An October Evening http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/3861-William-Wilfred-Campbell-An-October-Evening
and the great Dylan Thomas writes:-
. Especially when the October wind
. With frosty fingers punishes my hair,
in his poem Especially When The October Wind http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/5257-Dylan-Thomas-Especially-When-The-October-Wind
His namesake Edward Thomas describes the effect on the plants, writing:-
. That blackberry and gorse, in dew and sun,
. Bow down to; and the wind travels too light
. To shake the fallen birch leaves from the fern;
. The gossamers wander at their own will.
in his poem entitled simply October http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/8405-Edward-Thomas-October
Children of course enjoy the Halloween festivities as is described by Carl Sandburg
. Children join hands
. And circle round me
. Singing ghost songs
. And love to the harvest moon;
in his poem Theme In Yellow http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/4743-Carl-Sandburg-Theme-In-Yellow
Arthur Chapman shows us that there are other signs that tell us just as clearly that October is here when he writes
. There ain't no leaves to turn to gold—
. There ain't a tree in sight—
. In other ways the herder's told
. October's come, all right.
in his poem October On The Sheep Range http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/37280-Arthur-Chapman-October-on-the-Sheep-Range
It is not always easy to tell if the poet is happy or sad at the passage of the months. Take for example William Cullen Bryant when he writes:-
. Ay, thou art welcome, heaven's delicious breath!
. When woods begin to wear the crimson leaf,
. And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief
. And the year smiles as it draws near its death.
in his poem also called October http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/8537-William-Cullen-Bryant-October
For me one of the best descriptions is by the little known Flexmore Hudson who wrote:-
. When clear October suns unfold
. mallee tips of red and gold
. children on their way to school
. discover tadpoles in a pool,
in his poem Mallee in October http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/25789-Flexmore-Hudson-Mallee-in-October
And Bliss William Carman writing:-
. There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
. We must rise and follow her,
. When from every hill of flame
. She calls and calls each vagabond by name.
in his poem A Vagabond Song http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/31567-Bliss-William-Carman-A-Vagabond-Song
October affects many people in many ways but it does inspire some excellent verses I think you’ll agree.
The conkers (horse chestnuts to the uninitiated) are falling off the trees and will soon be joined by the leaves. The dark mornings and even darker nights have arrived to make the daily commute to and from work even more depressing. The churches are proclaiming Harvest Festival services and the Christmas advertisements have started to appear. This is October.
A wonderful month of rich bright colours, full store houses and, just to stop us getting carried away with euphoria, thoroughly miserable weather
A wonderful month of rich bright colours, full store houses and, just to stop us getting carried away with euphoria, thoroughly miserable weather
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I have just read ( and left commnent) 'A Vagabond Song' and it is truly beautiful. Well worth taking a few minutes from a busy day to feel revitalised.
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I'm glad I helped guide your eyes Von.
I must confess to finding some of these poems absolutely amazing and am still popping back to re-read.
Just for interest this column was sparked by hearing a friend sing "October Song" from the pen of RobinWilliamson. Do you know it?
Lyrics here http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/October-Song-ly rics-The-Incredible-String-Band/2C5F5570D3EDAEA048256DD700097C86
Jim
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very interesting, thanks for sharing. and yes I do agree that there is somethimg about October that seems apart from reality and the rest of year...no surprise it inspires some great writes.
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Glad you liked it. I intend to do a few more of these on various themes both for the fun of the thing and also to encourage more people to pop over to Oldpoetry and read the work of the masters.
Jim
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I would agree that October has inspired a great many poems over the years. I am like Von and look forward to longer days,warm sunshine, cool nights and flowers on the fruit trees. This year winter has decided not to leave yet. The apple blossoms are quite lovely but the wind is cold and miserable.
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I too am looking forward to warm sunshine but I must use binoculars in these Northern climes.
Why do the scientist go on about global warming when it's so cold??
Thanks for reading my stuff old friend.
Jim -
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I have been fascinated by the 'Old Poets' since I was able to read. I still am. I write now, but I will always read, reading is like a good meal, it satisfies until one becomes hungry again.
Thanks for posting Jim.
Bob -
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I like your meal analogy and will be offering some more menus like this in the weeks to come.
Jim
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A most interesting column Jim, the other side of the coin(or should I say world) for me as October also brings with it, the scent of spring, warm sunshine and longer days. trees gathering their new buds for future blossom.
Theodore Storm had the right idea though - October all over the world would suit his ideas!
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I'm afraid Storm's solution would be wasted on me Von but getting my fingers around a warm mug of Horlicks
after a days walk in this weather is sheer Bliss although I'm not sure I'd want it all year round.
Thanks for reading this which is the product of playing around with the Oldpoetry search tools. They are quite powerful now-a-days.
Talking of which I should get back to work shouldn't I ?
TTFN
Jim
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