Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Last Days of White Linen


The Last Days of White Linen

The boat gives a soft shudder as it runs onto the sand. Nudged awake from my reveries I am startled to see its sails rather tattered and torn, its once vibrant stripes of white and blue now faded into a tired grey. I rub my eyes and gaze around. When did the morning light, once so gauzy and pale, become sharp enough to paint the landscape with shadows? When did the pathways, once glittered with beach sand, find themselves strewn with soft yellow leaves?
Sighing, I gather my straw hats and sand buckets, my beach books and espadrilles, and clamber out of the weary summer ship.
These are the last days of white linen.
Any midnight now, the garden will fall silent, its orchestra of cicadas will have packed up and gone.
Soon the trees will tire of their gowns of green, and robe themselves in the fiery garments of fall.

I have begun the short journey into another season and my heart stirs with every step that I take. I pass through faded gardens and smile, knowing they are soon to be filled with purple cabbages and pumpkins. Placing my hands in my pockets, I pull out sharpened pencils, red apples, green gloves. From out of nowhere, a brisk wind begins to tousle my hair. My pace quickens as, from just around a curve in the road, comes the faintest fragrance of wood smoke and hot cocoa - cinnamon and fir.

Where only a few hours ago I sat with my wings folded, drenched in the languidness of August, I now feel the awakening of my imagination like the first day of school.
I want to run straight into the arms of autumn with a grin on my face.
Anyone wish to join me?

"Lord it is time. The summer was very big. Lay thy shadow on the sundials, and on the meadows let the winds go loose. Command the last fruits that they should be full; give them another two more southerly days, press them on to fulfillment and drive the last sweetness into the heavenly wine."

Rainer Maria Rilke


35 comments:

  1. I love the beginninngs of each and every season Pamela so, I shall run into Autumn with you and with a smile and a spring n my step. Each season brings something wonderful and Autumn is no exception .....and, it mean that I can pull on my leather boots and long coats.
    Enjoy those first days of Autumn as they bring so much. XXXX

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  2. Hello Pamela:
    Such a beautiful welcome to autumn you give here in this most lyrical of writing. And, although we too look forward to the cooling breezes and gentler days of autumn, we are holding on to summer, dressed in white linen, right up until the last moment this year.

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  3. I love this post! Fall has always been my least favorite season so I'm opening up my mind to new possibilities and a change of heart! ♥

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  4. I adore the painting you chose for this post...inspiration for your missive on fall...I want to embrace it but to wear white linen a few weeks more would be nice..

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  5. Hello Pamela

    Your description evokes thoughts of fires buring (peat turf in the case of Ireland where I am presently).
    Linen is a favourite fabric.

    To Autumn Day
    Helen xx

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  6. Were I still up North in MT or MN, I would look forward to winter. Autumn is my favorite time of year. Sweaters, bright colors, cool days and nights with a good quilt, books, and a few dogs are all I need to stay comfy. What a lovely written segue from summer to fall :). Thank you.

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  7. So beautifully written and said. I love Fall, it is my favorite time of the year! I love the crisp air, the faint smell of wood burning fires, the early morning frost and the idea of being cocooned for the winter with my cocoa and a good book.

    Enjoy your weekend, elizabeth

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  8. Have a happy Labor Day and enjoy Georgia in the fall. Is there anywhere as beautiful as the leaves turn colour ?

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  9. Oh, I join you with pleasure. Although summer is the season I regal in, I welcome autumn with open arms too!

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  10. Yes, I would love to join you. I love autumn and am so happy to say hello to September. There is a quickening at this time of year, a little jolt of excitement about life and a pleasure in seeing the rich palette of the season. September always feels like a month of beginnings to me.

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  11. i love your way of writing. and i admire these pics!!! im huge fan of vintage thinge and old times!
    i will follow you ;)
    regards,
    akissfromthepast.blogspot.com

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  12. I do, I do, I'll join you in Autumn, for, though I don't like to wish anything away, summer was long, and hot, and turbulent here and I'll looking forward to these cooler days.

    Your post is once again poetic and beautiful, Pamela.

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  13. Just beautiful Pamela...really special thank you. Over here in South Africa we are welcoming spring. It is when we exchange seasons with one another across the globe, that I realize just how quick every year passes by.....warm wishes Colette

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  14. I love autumn, getting all wrapped up in your best knits. I shall have to dig out those crotchet hooks that have been hibernating all summer.

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  15. Autumn...my favourite season. Luscious cosy sweaters, tasty soups and big red wines.
    I refuse, however, to give up the white linens...I will hang onto them until the very last, last, last days of this twilight.

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  16. No, Pamela and Edward,
    I definitely do not want to join you in running into the arms of Autumn. I'm going to dig my nails into Summer and only be pulled out of it fighting and clawing. It will be a fine old hizzy-fit for me. I won't be fooled by you or your cohort, Autumn. I know for sure what comes after it, and I am afraid. So there!!

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  17. In Southern California, the seasons blur...to me summer is my least favorite..to seems they enjoy it the most. I no longer like being in the sun...we don’t get much rain so it becomes dusty, dirty with all the fire soot and freeway fallout landing on lawns and leaves. give me a fresh blast of rain to wash all of this away. Autumn to me is a favorite...with the promise of some moisture...but still for the most part the gardens grow all year long and for some brillant...! for me tiring. i long to see the first fall of snow.

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  18. Bring it on! I absolutely love cooler weather followed by colder weather and woolens, silks, hand knits, etc. are my kind of clothes. Orvis and Peterman...yeah!
    But, when I saw 'white linen', I thought of the perfume.

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  19. Beautifully put! Yes, I'm ready for fall. I'm putting away my white linen today and making pear crisp for breakfast in the morning.

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  20. I love this poem by Rilke and it returns to haunt me every autumn. Beautiful words and images in your posting, Pamela.

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  21. I hadn't come across this poem of Rilke before, it's so very beautiful!
    Oh it is sad to see another Summer go, but we will rush forward alongside of you. Wrapped warmly in our scarves and boots, lets all meet up for hot chocolate....see you there!

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  22. Thank you so much for reminding me of that wonderful Rilke which I've not thought of since my school days! I'm delighted to remember it again.

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  23. Can I join you Pamela as I too get stirrings of excitement when autumn arrives. You have made it even more inviting with your words which are pure poetry as always. Thank you so much.
    And you finish with such a beautiful Rilke quotation.

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  24. i am running with you Pamela!!! clutched in my hands are my hat and scarf and gloves, the fir cones are already being gathered, the sloes are nearly ready to be picked and woodsmoke is in the air here as well, bring it on!! those predicable days of summer cast aside and the wind is howling outside, i'm polishing my boots and turning up my collar, oh how i love autumn!! xxxx

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  25. Dearest Pamela,
    If today's weather in Wales is anything to go by, the autumn season is truly with us. I think we are getting the tail end of Hurricane Irene!
    A lovely post!
    Thank You
    Di
    X

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  26. We're just now getting our summer and I'm completely not ready for Autumn's arrival...but maybe if we welcome her with open arms, she'll extend the warmth for a bit and be slow to turn into the bridge that brings us to winter's door...I suppose it's the best option as she's going to visit us either way, best to be kind and not bitter...as there is always next year.
    xo J~

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  27. loving the mere thought of autumn after this brutal summer! our mornings these last few days have given us a taste of what lies ahead... even if it still gets to almost 100 during the days... the nights are heavenly cool. and i smile in the darkness with the window open to the pre-autumn breeze.
    love,
    tammy j

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  28. Ah, yes, autumn. But of course I'm not the only one who feels the creative stirrings of autumn! So lovely to see.
    I'll be with you! Skipping through the harlequin leaves!

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  29. After a chilly summer in this North of Spain where I live, september arrives with sun and mild weather. I like summer, the sweet summer we have here, but this year has been... awful, cold and rainy. We expect a sursis in autumn, and then, the rain and cold (not very cold) that I don't enjoy particularly.
    In any case, I love your posts.

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  30. I will join you any time you like Pamela. You make Autumn sound so exciting. I expect Edward enjoys frolicking in the leaves.

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  31. Our autumn is very early this year - too early after our dreary non-summer. My mind appreciates what you write, but my senses are still yearning for the summer warmth, never mind heat, that we never had.

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  32. What a wonderful post! I'm with you... I always seem to be ready for the change of seasons. We finally had time to take photos of Jenning's house, Poplar Grove, today to put on the blog, and I enjoyed every minute. The garden isn't as dashing as it is in June, but I love the richness of this time of year. Even Winston gave us a funny smile.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!