Has Summer started to turn the circle?

Although we can see the start of August from here, we're not quite there yet. Some local trees don't seem to care. Sumac and maples have begun to change colors. Not many, and in scattered locations, but still enough to surprise us since the recent weather has been classic Minnesota Summer. Our surprise probably says more about us than it does about the trees, since a year ago, in early August, we were down in the Driftless Area and the sumacs there were bright red, as you can see.

early August sumac

Photo by J. Harrington

Each year, as Summer wanes and Autumn waxes, and we listen to Joni Mitchell's absolutely wonderful The Circle Game, the lyrics trigger a nostalgic, almost melancholy, awareness that some time ago we had reached the age at which we began to drag our heels to slow the circle down. Perhaps the word we're looking for is the Welsh word hiraeth.

late August maple leaves

Photo by J. Harrington

With what seems an early start to color change this year, our other pictures of maple color in August were all taken around the last week of next month, we may have to dig in our heels even more. An early start to Autumn will be really painful if it means, not a longer Autumn, but an early end to our favorite season.

dragonfly awaiting capture inside a jar

Photo by J. Harrington

Enough of that negative thinking. Let's enjoy listening to The Circle Game sung by Joni, or, another favorite rendition, Tom Rush. If you're not familiar with the lyrics and want to sing along (highly recommended) here are they are:

The Circle Game

by Joni Mitchell

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star

Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like when you're older must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game *

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels thru the town
And they tell him take your time it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game 

© Siquomb Publishing Company

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