Against The Dying of the Light

Forgive the triviality of my title, today of all days, when the untimely deaths of tens of thousands is on all our minds, and the horizon looks darker still in too many directions. I have no wise words to add to the thousands already written. Anyway, as Thomas said, wise words fork no lightning. Silent rage is all I can manage

The light of the day was dying, the light of the year is dying; but the day was warm and outdoor tea without a coat will soon be a thing of the past and the future. Only this tiny patch of sun remained in the garden, and just long enough to drain the mug before the shadow of the brewery tower engulfed us

Berries surround us; these cotoneaster - burning at close of day - are not very palatable yet, but fieldfare are taking the rowan and blackbirds have started in the holly - life-sustaining food for the birds, and a chance of new life for the seeds within

I wonder if I will be able to repeat this picture in the spring with blossom on the cherry behind the chairs. It seems so far away - we have to pass through a symbolic death and rebirth between now and then - but it will be here so soon