Crack your first nut and light your first fire;

Roast your first chestnut crisp on the bar;

Make the logs sparkle, stir the blaze higher,

Logs are cheery as sun or as star,

Logs we can find wherever we are.

Spring one soft day will open the leaves,

Spring one bright day will lure back the flowers;

Never fancy my whistling wind grieves,

Never fancy I’ve tears in my showers;

Dance, nights and days! And dance on, my hours!

Christina Rossetti,

from The Months: A Pageant.

Painting: Autumn Leaves