Fall is now in full swing, with the maples reddening in the late afternoon sunlight and the frost painting the blades of grass in crisp silver triangles each morning. Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy nature and poetry together before the cold winds of winter blow by. Take time during your teatime to go outside, breathe in, and enjoy the delights of autumn.
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There are so many beautiful poems about fall that we could spend an entire month of teatimes on the delights of harvest and the slow descent into winter’s chill nights. Shakespeare offers a delicate hint of autumn in the following sonnet.
Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold
By William Shakespeare
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
Shakespeare’s poem captures the short-lived delights of fall so perfectly. A shorter and equally captivating poem is “November Night,” by Adelaide Crapsey.
November Night
By Adelaide Crapsey
Listen.
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees
And fall.
Crapsey's poem is so short and yet packs beautiful sensory images and the wonders of wordplay. As the above poems suggest, poetry about fall, whether specifically for children or for general audiences, contains the magic of a special time of year.
Harvest Treats
- Fall-flavored brews: brew some chai spice tea or a cinnamony cup of tea. Serve hot apple cider or hot cocoa--with marshmallows, of course. Or, make your own apple cider from scratch using this recipe from Smart School House.
- Roasted pumpkin seeds: Keep all those seeds from the pumpkins you’ve been carving! You can roast them and enjoy them as a delicious snack. This recipe from Home Cooking Memories offers a wonderful guide to creating that mouthful of sweet and salty crunch from pumpkin seeds.
- Caramel apple bar: You’ll need many apples for this recipe, as well as chocolate sauce, sprinkles, caramel, crushed nuts, and any other toppings you’d enjoy. Check out the directions, tips, and fabulous images on Craftberry Bush.
- Other cute finger food: Create these easy and oh-so-adorable deviled egg “pumpkins” on Tadka Pasta. Cut your carrots in the shape of these simple and fun carrot “pumpkins” on Little Dairy on the Prairie.
Autumn Decorations
Autumn is one of the easiest times to decorate, because you can simply grab a handful of fall leaves, some acorns, and a few pinecones and make a gorgeous centerpiece for your table. If you’re looking to add some spice to your typical fall decorations, though, you’ll find some ideas below!
- Paint placemats or a table runner: Slice the apple in half and dip the half in orange paint, then stamp the apple onto paper. It’ll make a pumpkin shape that you can decorate with a face or mess-free “carvings.” For another fun painting idea, lay leaves onto the paper and tape them on the underside, then paint over them. Make sure all of the edges are covered. Remove the leaves and you’ll have a beautiful white space in the shape of the leaf, with paint around it. This is an easy activity for kids of all ages. Supplies: paint, colored paper, brushes, apples, leaves, paint. Inspiration: this leaf-painting activity on Minnie-Mama and this apple stencil on Frugal Momeh
- Pumpkin-themed decor: If you have any pumpkins lying around the house, try painting them a light color, then using sharpie to write quotes about fall, things that the family is thankful for, or favorite moments in fall. Use this pin from Good Housekeeping for inspiration. For a simple paper craft that produces lovely pumpkin shapes from strips of colored paper, follow these directions and gorgeous pictures on Meaningful Mama. Supplies: pumpkin, light-colored paint, paintbrushes, sharpie; strips of colored paper, scissors, tape.
- Table toppings: For effortless table toppings, combine objects from nature like acorns or pinecones with a single flower or a candle in a vase or bowl. Or take items you have lying around the kitchen, such as popcorn kernels, split peas, or cinnamon sticks, and pour them in layers into vases or around candles. Inspiration: easy fall centerpieces from Country Living and this fun vase of popcorn and peas from Woo Home.
Fall Festivities
- Nature Walk Leaf Faces: Go on a nature walk and collect fallen objects. Grab glossy acorns, glinting leaves, prickly pine needles, or anything else that catches your eye. Then, arrange your items in faces: use the acorns for eyes and the pine needles for hair, for example. If you’d like, make the leaves into dresses for magical woodland creatures. Be sure to name your nature creations! Inspiration: Making a Leaf Face on TeachWithMe.com.
- Kindness Postcards: This activity is related to harvest as a time to give thanks and give back to others. Take the leaves you collected on your nature walk and glue them to cards or bookmarks. Then, write notes of appreciation or thanks, or write short haikus or poems for other people on the back of the bookmark or card. Create something to give to someone else during this time of celebration and giving thanks. Inspiration: Kindness Postcards on Growing Book by Book.
Poetry Books
Autumnblings, by Douglas Florian
Leaf Jumpers, by Carole Gerber
When Autumn Falls, by Kelly Nidley
In November, by Cynthia Rylant
Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic, by Steven Schnur
I Know it’s Autumn, by Eileen Spinelli
A Child’s Calendar, by John Updike
A Chill in the Air: Nature Poems for Fall and Winter, by John Frank
Leaf by Leaf, by Barbara Rogasky
Be sure to check out these suggested books and poems about fall on Miss Rumphius Effect.
Use the Poetry Foundation’s list of fall poems as a resource for older kids (you may wish to preview the poems before sharing them with the whole family).
