Thursday, October 19, 2006

A Vagabond Song

There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood ---
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

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.
---- Bliss Carman

18 Comments:

Blogger Pam in Tucson said...

Hooray! you're back! And bringing us the most beautiful autumn colours perfectly framing the scene. How I miss the water and the turning leaves. Wonderful poem you've selected to illustrate this lovely photo.

1:39 PM  
Blogger Julie said...

This photo takes my breath away. Welcome back :-)

1:59 PM  
Blogger Maureen said...

i'm so glad you are posting again. I love that line, "And my lonely spirit thrills To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills."

some of this poem I can take into my heart and really feel ... while other parts of the sentiment make me feel a little stubborn and separate. In autumn, I always experience a real mix of emotions; sometimes my feelings reflect the flaming colors and sunny, crisp days. Other times the darkening daylight, the shortening nights, the cold and shadows creep in -- seem to cover my spirit with a cloak and I just get downright blue. I know I need both parts of me to be whole.
thanks for sharing this poem and really, truly I am glad you are back here. I hope you're feeling well now.

10:55 PM  
Blogger silverlight said...

Very evocative of the restlessness of the melacholy of Fall.

12:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really glad to see you're back. Gorgeous photo, I just love Autumn, and Autumn colours. Thanks for a poem I had never read.

5:51 AM  
Blogger Maya's Granny said...

So glad to see that you are back.

The photo is gorgeous, the poem is lovely.

I love autumn. It is wonderful, in all of its incredible colors, and all of its bounty. Being of farm folk, the harvast is such an incredible time for me.

6:23 AM  
Blogger Kerri said...

What a wonderful combination...poetry and photography. Both absolutely glorious!
I've so much enjoyed visiting your blog this morning. Your photography is amazing.
So sorry you're having trouble with Blogger. It's tempermental to say the least. Have you tried posting pics with Picasa and Hello? They're both free programs from Google. Most of the time they work well.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It's lovely to 'meet' you :)

9:09 AM  
Blogger daringtowrite said...

Vagabonds Unite! I especially love the second stanza. Welcome back.

11:01 AM  
Blogger LenĂ© Gary said...

Yea!! So glad to see you posting great poetry and photographs. Happy Friday, Endment. :)

5:41 PM  
Blogger Joyce Ellen Davis said...

So very happy to see you are back! I missed your beautiful posts and your voice....

I'm not sure blogger is better...yet. We can only hope!

6:37 PM  
Blogger Kay Cooke said...

Great to have you back. Perfect photo and words - as I've come to expect. Thank you.
(Just as you arrive back, I am about to leave for a spell - am doing the NaNoWriMo (writing a novel in a month - so no blogging time avail!)

7:56 PM  
Blogger Susan Gets Native said...

So glad you are back!
Love the poem...
And my gypsy blood is a stirring!

10:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

endment, i enjoyed your photograph and poem selection, thanks for sharing - i was sure to look up Bliss Carman.

12:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a wonderful comeback post! I've missed you. Great poem (as usual) and beautiful photo, alive with fiery fall color.

"October...sets the gypsy blood astir...calls each vagabond by name." I love it.

3:31 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hi Endment,

You must have revived your spirit and put on your battle gear for Blogger Monster. It is a pleasure this afternoon to see your new post.

The poem captures the season so beautifully. My eye falls on asters and berries as if for the first time.

The purple and white asters always make me think of my former life as a scholar of French literature. Baulelaire wrote in his Fleurs du Mal: "Sors-tu du gouffre noir ou descends-tu des astres ?:

Have you come out of the black abyss, or have you fallen from the stars?

A strange recollection, but very strong. I think of Baudelaire every time I go up the hill here.

Welcome back.

6:13 PM  
Blogger kerrdelune said...

Endment, absolutely perfect in every way, and I am so happy that you are back!!!!. This is gorgeous. . . .

3:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting Bliss Carmen's poem. I think the line is, "...With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time."

3:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Native to my blood" My daughter and I share October birthdays This has been our birthday poem, as long as I can remember. I am 75 and she is 50. Thanks for posting the picture and the poem. The blast of the bugles started the lovely Song of the Vagabond once again this year. We are under the spell that Bliss Carmen cast on us for another glorious autumn.

4:49 PM  

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