by Janice Surlin
Every season has its charm,
Each has its special call—
And while I do enjoy them all,
My favorite is the Fall!
A moon child, astrologically,
Perhaps the reason why
I have a strong affinity
For our silver satellite in the sky;
So, Harvest Moon, I wait for you,
Full moon nearest Autumn’s equinox, *
The glowing orange celestial orb
A sense of joy and gratitude unlocks;
While down on Earth the color bursts . . .
Glorious gold, red, orange hues—
From foliage to pumpkin pies,
Treats for my eyes and tummy too!
Some may prefer a sun-drenched beach,
Or a fresh white, powdery slope,
But “autumn leaves drift[ing] by my window,”**
My favorite season’s trope.
*Fall begins September 22
The Harvest Moon is October First
**”Autumn Leaves,” a song originally in French;
“Les Feuilles mortes” was written in 1945 and first
heard in a 1946 French movie—music by Joseph Kosma,
a native of Hungary, lyrics by Jacques Prévert.
Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics in 1947 and
song became “Autumn Leaves.” Nat King Cole https://youtu.be/ZEMCeymW1Ow sang
it in the movie by that name in 1956, and his
recording of it is one of the most famous of that song.
It has been recorded over 1,000 times with words and
instrumental versions, and is the 8th most recorded
tune by jazz musicians.
