Here it comes, freefalling

[j4]

There's no escaping it, that chill in the air is definitely autumnal, and with it comes the feeling of countless autumns piled high like dead leaves, with the oldest memories rotting wetly into the ground.

It's not something I can point to, it's not something I can name. It's something in the cold clarity of the air, something in the brittle sparkling of the morning dew, something in way the low pale sunlight catches on stones and sills, and flashes on the river.

It's the memory of new terms, of hard black shoes and new lessons to learn, a return to a routine that marks the passage of time, crosses off days on the calendar, ushers in the nights when shop-fronts glow orange in the cold darkness and televisions light up people's windows like candles and everybody else is somewhere safe and warm.

It's a lump in the back of my throat, a swallow that can't bring back summer. It's another year over.

Comments

[simont]

Hmm. I think it must have been the close proximity of "back of my throat" that caused me to massively misparse "swallow". What a strange image :-)

[j4.livejournal.com]

Deliberate pun.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I hated going back to school so much that I still feel melancholy at this time of year. Really, having left education forever, I should gloat and point and laugh at hapless children now I've earned the freedom to, er, work all year round.

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Spot on, and beautifully put, as always.

[angua.livejournal.com]

Autumn is my favourite time of the year for some of the reasons you've stated but also because it always seems peaceful to me, I enjoyed the routine of going back to school and I love the crisp mornings with a hint of chill mean I think about wearing a jumper when I leave the house to go to work but by the time I leave in the afternoon the warmth of the day has made it unnecessary.

Random aside: Did Sion give you the books back with a few extras, I know they're tatty so just chuck them if you don't want them.

[j4.livejournal.com]

For all the good it does.

[oldbloke.livejournal.com]

Did you ever get round to reading any Brautigan?
Some of your prose reminds me of some of his.
A bit.
And only some of it.

I'll get me coat.

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

What good do you want? Anyway, it provoked thought, emotion, recollection, wistfulness and empathy in me; that's quite a lot from a piece of writing only 3 paragraphs long.

[j4.livejournal.com]

Yes, he gave me the books, but he didn't know if they were a loan or a gift -- I meant to email you, sorry. The Bunty are v cool :)

[j4.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I'd rather be a person than a text.

[angua.livejournal.com]

They're a gift :)

The bunty are just silly.. I thought you might want to read the famous five and the kids stories and then pass them on or chuck them.

I can't remember if I'd found the choose your own adventure Hardy Boys book and thrown it in the bag or not. If it's not there I have that one to give to you as well.

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Can't speak for j4, but I read some Brautigan. Excellent stuff, and I can see where you get the comparison from; it's all in the sense of atmosphere.

[j4.livejournal.com]

I've read some -- "Revenge of the Lawn" (which I found in a library sale & bought when I'd never heard of Brautigan just cos it sounded interesting... found another 2ndhand copy which I gave to hoiho because I thought it was so good he ought to read it, dunno if he ever bothered though) and "Sombrero Fallout" -- both superb. Looking out for more, but hoping to find them second-hand i.e. cheap, so it may be a slow process.

[k425.livejournal.com]

You have to a person to write text that beautiful.

[imc.livejournal.com]

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old
And darker days are drawing near.
The winter winds will be much colder
Now you're not here.

[j4.livejournal.com]

*cries hopelessly*