A final farewell to October.
In this one, by the incomparable Paul Laurence Dunbar, October is the haughty "treasurer of the year," caring not for the troubles of the other months, but rather reveling in her royalty, and accepting her final fate.
Farewell, beloved October!
October
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
October is the treasurer of the year,
And all the months pay bounty to her store;
The fields and orchards still their tribute bear,
And fill her brimming coffers more and more.
But she, with youthful lavishness,
Spends all her wealth in gaudy dress,
And decks herself in garments bold
Of scarlet, purple, red, and gold.
She heedeth not how swift the hours fly,
But smiles and sings her happy life along;
She only sees above a shining sky;
She only hears the breezes' voice in song.
Her garments trail the woodlands through,
And gather pearls of early dew
That sparkle, till the roguish Sun
Creeps up and steals them every one.
But what cares she that jewels should be lost,
When all of Nature's bounteous wealth is hers?
Though princely fortunes may have been their cost,
Not one regret her calm demeanor stirs.
Whole-hearted, happy, careless, free,
She lives her life out joyously,
Nor cares when Frost stalks o'er her way
And turns her auburn locks to gray.
("October" is in the public domain.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 comments:
I'm sad October is almost over already. Lovely poem to bid farewell, though. :)
Dunbar's personification of autumn almost reminds me of "A virtuous woman who can find?" except in opposite number. Home girl is out there spending her dress allowance on gaudiness, she's smiling and dancing and gathering pearls and pretty much letting the household go to wrack and ruin, because AUTUMN GLORIES! She's on her way to going gray, and she's pretty much, "(Frosty) Gray Hair, Don't Care!
I like this girl. ☺
When I get in my car I just can't help exclaiming how beautiful the leaves are. I'm by myself, driving to work, jabbering on -- and I don't care. October is such a gem of a month. I'm glad to experience it. I love that Dunbar captures it in his way.
Wow, what a character portrait of October! I love how bold and carefree she is--thank you for sharing!
Jama, I'm sad too — it's gone too fast, as always.
Tanita, I like this girl too. :D You summed it up perfectly, lol.
Linda, right? The autumn leaves make me carry on conversations with myself as well. Some things demand words out loud, no matter who else is around.
Laura, yes to the bold, yes to the carefree! Go, October! :)
Glorying in the day instead of worry for the future, something we might take a lesson from, at least most of the time! I love "the roguish Sun/Creeps up and steals them every one" about the dew. He offers a new look for us. Thanks, Karen!
Mmm...lovely Dunbar poem; I wrote about October's end too (with my poetry group), and added to the hint of October as a regal woman sitting for a portrait. Thanks, Karen.
Linda, I also appreciate the nudge to glory in the day instead of worrying for the future. ❤️
Patricia, I just saw your October/birthday ode. So sweet!
Karen, Dunbar's interpretation of October is quite interesting. October is one of my favorite months but I never thought of her as the treasurer of the year, living her life out joyously. Happy Fall. I am glad that it continues for one more month.
What an interesting take that October is the treasurer and all other months pay the bounty. I am always a wee bit sad to say good-bye to October.
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