‘Boats at rest’ (1895) by Arthur Wesley Dow.
With the rain that fell yesterday, the last of summer washed away. The cool air touches our shoulder, alerting us of the turn toward autumn. Summer, with its blinding yellow flowers, has snuck away.
I worked on my book, traveled to Hawaii, and visited my family. I traipsed about prairies, admiring the bees. Circling familiar ponds, I photographed birds. I ate barbecue (though not nearly as much as I would have liked).
I bought summer sandals, breakfasted outdoors, and chatted for hours with women I love, wondering why some of us can’t be happier. Where do we find the well of peace? When do we latch onto a vision of our place in the world that supplies a foundation for order and calm? Amid the epiphenomena of the seasons, we search for the logic of our souls and surroundings. One who gleans this in any season is fortunate, indeed.
Arthur Dow’s painting is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. Click here to learn more about this beautiful work.
harley says
You sound a little sad in this post, Celia. Yup, summer is definitely beginning to wane now. The drop in the temperature yesterday ( 25 degrees ) and the very dark and gloomy last two days is kind of a foreshadowing of what is to come. Even the picture seems kind of “empty” and sad. However, keep in mind that fall in Chicago is far better than spring and good days are upon us yet !!
Celia says
Well, Harley, as someone I know likes to say, Every day can’t be Christmas. The turn toward autumn, after a summer gone too fast, does strike me as a regrettable event. It’s always a little sad, the day one notices, usually through a subtle hint, that autumn is coming. And, with the sudden drop of daytime temperatures into the 50s, the clue is impossible to overlook this time.
harley says
No, every day can’t be Xmas–that’s for sure. As of late I have not been feeling too well. It started on Thursday when I woke up with a headache; for me, that is usually a foreshadowing of illness to come. This is now Saturday and I still am not all well–UGH! To top it off, the building I live in has not turned the heat on yet! A lazy superintendent, or owners just being downright cheap.
Celia says
It did get pretty darn cold at night. It’s a shame you’re not feeling well. Get well soon!