The last few days have turned much cooler in Ireland, and this year’s late arrival of autumn progresses with a little more intensity, with leaves turning colour and beginning to fall.  This year the natural world is slow to move towards its conclusion, preferring to hold on to the period of growth and warmth. And yet a different type of growth awaits, with new lessons to be learned.

Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by.
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,
and on the meadows let the wind go free.  

Command the last fruits to swell on tree and vine;
grant them a few more warm transparent days,
urge them on to fulfillment then, and press
the final sweetness into the heavy wine.  

Whoever has no house now, will never have one.
Whoever is alone will stay alone,
will sit, read, write long letters through the evening,
and wander along the boulevards, up and down,
restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing.

Rainer Maria Rilke
translated by Stephen Mitchell