Autumn

"SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness!

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;"

These are the opening lines of John Keats's famous poem 'To Autumn', in praise of the colours, smells and sights of this crossover season of the year. What he doesn't mention, of course, are the cold, wind, rain and often frost that often accompany this season! For Keats Autumn is a rich tapestry that regales the senses and heightens the emotions.

"As Summer into Autumn slips

And yet we sooner say

"The Summer" than "the Autumn," lest

We turn the sun away,"

The first verse of Emily Dickinson's musing on Autumn neatly captures the feeling that we have a tendency to lengthen Summer and keep Autumn at bay for as long as we can, not so much because of Autumn itself but rather of what it brings in its wake. And so last few days of Summer spill over into the first few days of Autumn. But as the leaves begin to fall from the trees and the winds begin to blow, we grudgingly accept the coming of Autumn and comfort ourselves with the thought that there may well be fine days still to come before the onset of Winter.

“Laden Autumn here I stand Worn of heart, and weak of hand: Nought but rest seems good to me, Speak the word that sets me free.”

So speaks William Morris of Autumn in the Autumn of his own life. And of course this season of the year has often be identified with the penultimate phase of human life, in the antechamber, so to speak, of the closing years of man's allotted term. Autumn is laden with ripened fruit, but it is also the season of decomposition. It puts the icing on Summer but it also opens the door to Winter. Autumn celebrates the fruits of Summer, but it also paves the way for the desolation of Winter. In short, it looks both ways, it is Janus, the God that faces both forward and backward.

The Light of the World

The imposing figure of Christ the Redeemer, arms outstretched, stands like a lonely sentinel on its lofty perch atop Corcovado mountain high above the sprawling city of Rio de Janeiro, with which it is now inseparably linked in people's minds. Some devout pilgrims have said that they have seen Christ weep. And those that believe in him are certain that he must weep to see the sad state of the world today.

One day, seeing such misery down below, Jesus raised his voice to his Father in Heaven, and spake these words: "Oh Heavenly Father of mine, my heart is heavy with sorrow at what i see below me, at the poverty, hardship and wickedness that afflicts mankind. Pray tell me if there is ought I can do to drive back the tide of evil that is now engulfing the human race and I will do it to the full. What shall I do, my Father, what shall I do?"

And his Father spake unto him, saying: "Alas, my son, there is nothing more for thee to do on Earth. Man must fashion his own destiny and wreak his own end. Thou hast done what was entrusted to thee, carried out thy mission, and paid the ultimate price. Now thou must seek to comfort those who call upon thee, give hope to those that believe in thee, embrace those that seek solace through thee, and enlighten those that endeavour to spread the Word to all who will hear it."

And Jesus replied: "But Father, it pains me so to see Man steeped in such mortal sin. I can hardly bear to witness day after day so much misery and so much sorrow in the world and do nothing. Thou didst send me once to bring hope and forgiveness and redemption and love to mankind. Canst thou not send me again?"

And the Lord his Father answered: "Were I to send thee again, my Son, to walk among men, thy fate would be no different and the outcome no better. Man has not learnt the lessons of the past nor foresaken worldly desires. Therefore be content to be what thou art, a symbol of hope and love and peace and the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. And let thy outstretched arms embrace all those who call upon thy name and mine. Thy mere presence is like a beacon of light showing the way to eternal salvation. Thou art the bridge between heaven and earth. " And Jesus took to heart the words of his Father and the Creator of all living things and of all that is in the vast Universe, and sought not to question further his Heavenly Father.

And many were those in the city below who, looking up at the statuesque figure of Christ on high at this very moment, saw it bathed in a brilliant celestial light. And they stopped what they were doing and marvelled at the wondrous sight. And a strange peace descended upon them and hope entered their heart once again. And when the shining light had subsided it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from them, and they broke into spontaneous conversation with their fellow men, unable to contain their joy at what they had seen and felt.

For Jesus had seemed to speak to them, saying: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not live in darkness, but will have the light of life. "

Me in Brazil

Well, folks, this is your humble blogger shown within touching distance of a lovely latin lass deep in the heart of Brazil at carnival time. I resolved to go native and make whoopie with the revellers but my english reserve got the better of me and I felt more like an observer making a mental record of the partying locals. Still, there I was mixing with the natives, as it were, and, thanks to my mediterranean roots, looking like one of them, as long as I kept my mouth shut.

Needless to say the carnival frolics continued well into the night thanks to a hard core of ever-present merry-makers determined to whoop it up until they dropped. And they were helped by ample booze that flowed and the loud syncopated music that boomed out. The processions of effigies known as 'bonecos' had run their gauntlet among the crowds and now, as the night deepened, scattered groups of die-hards toughed it out in the streets under the watchful eye of the police.

And here is your humble blogger in more sedate moments, when the sights and sounds of Brazil could be savoured at a more leisurely pace in a seaside 'pousada' situated in a verdant setting far from the "madding crowd" and where the simple pleasures of sun and sea could be enjoyed in restful surroundings.

Our Summer Holidays

Ahhhhhhh, the summer holidays... that magic season when we traditionally go off to some idyllic destination to sample sea and sun and lazy days on the beach and renew our energies. What would we do and how would we cope if we did not have this yearly break from our labours, this annual excursion to sunnier and lovelier climes where for a few days we can live out our dreams and cast our cares away?

Taking it easy by the sea, hand in hand, exchanging wide-eyed glances, enjoying the moment as only a child can. For a moment life stands still and the ocean expanse fills one's being and gladdens one's soul. We were at the dawn of our lives and out there was a world waiting to be discovered all over again.

We were young and vigorous and full of the joy of life. We ran into the sea that late afternoon, kicking and splashing the water into a bubbly white foam around our legs. The warm water felt good on our skin as we threw ourselves into its soothing embrace and half swam half rolled around in one joyful happy-go-lucky group of friends.

We all partook of those eye-popping tecnicolour cocktails that one only indulges in when on holiday and on show. Their bright primary colours, exotic mix and decorative slices of fruit matched our exuberance and holiday spirits and we drank them down without thought to their effect on our body or our pocket. They were supercharged but so were we!

They were carefree holidays when sun and sea and fun and love merged into one whole to make a heady potion. Evening romps along the seashore where Nature conspired to sharpen our senses and heighten our delights. As the sun went down, it threw its dying but dazzling rays across a swelling sea and tinged the sand with gleaming flecks of gold. The sea surged around us, its tingling coolness lapping at our feet. They were summer days that promised much and made our spirits soar. We had youth, we had passion, we had time to lose, and we were happy.

But all too soon those balmy days were no more and summer's lease of sun and fun was quickly at an end. We came back to live on memories and hopes, though with the knowledge that there would be another summer and another summer fling.

And now, many years later and in the tightening grip of age, we look back on those heady days of youthful passion and irrepressible bravura and wish we could do it all over again if we but had youth on our side. We still go on summer holidays to foreign climes but they are not the ones where once we went and we no longer do what we once did. Summer holidays are still with us, but the days of carefree living in the sun and impetuous loving on sandy shore are long gone and will not return.

As the song says:

"♫ We had joy, ♫ we had fun, ♫ we had seasons in the sun, ♫ but the wine and the song, ♫ like the seasons, ♫ have all gone. ♫♫ We had joy, ♫ we had fun, ♫ we had seasons in the sun, ♫ but the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach. ♫♫"

Ahhhhhhhhhhh....... those summer holidays.