Falling Leaves

Song for Autumn

Don’t you imagine the leaves dream now
how comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of the air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the tree, especially those with
mossy hollows, are beginning to look for

the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
stiffens and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
its long blue shadows. The wind wags
its many tails. And in the evening
the piles firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

Mary Oliver

Autumn is the purest time of the year. It is when I reaffirm my bond with nature’s chaos. The animals are busy, the weather is confused, and the cold silence on the horizon is always reminding you to savor the moment. Some may only think about the raking of leaves or the picking of a crisp apple off the branch, but Autumn is about remembering our limitations and impermanence.

Jenny and I, along with our dog Clyde, traveled up to the state of Maine. It was a much needed break after what felt like a long summer. We ate, breathed in the fresh air, and most importantly rested. I was lucky enough to go out into Acadia National Park before much people. Generally I don’t grasp hiking. Like the goal is to just walk around? Imagine going back in time to our ancestors on a savannah and communicating to them you’d like to hike. Or even go out for a jog. You’d be treated to the first laughs in human history. I prefer to imagine I’m wandering around and meditating. When I lived in West Marin County, California, I used to go out into Point Reyes and do the same thing. Really I was just always looking for a spot to take a nap and enjoy actual world beyond the glass, concrete, and metal. The world where our brains and senses were defined, a realm where you can be without the crushing oppression of society pushing you to conform. Who fears mountain lions, snakes, and ticks when you have social media and abstract ideologies? It surely must be impossible to become mad outside of society.

All critiques aside, Autumn is the best time of the year at the store. Whereas summer is hot and we naturally seek refreshment, during this time of the year we are naturally more melancholy and seeking warmth and happiness. Besides a hot cup of chocolate all the flavors we will be making are just right to soothe these feelings. The classics like Espresso & Ganache will instantly feel more satisfying, Pear Mascarpone will fill your tastebuds, and Cold Remedy will remind you to be vigilant during this precarious period. After a needed rest we are back.

*side note: Mary Oliver, whose poem is above, is one of my favorite poets and an enriching read during this time of the year.