"Bring me a wheel of Oaken wood,
A rein of polished leather,
A heavy horse, and a thundering sky,
Brewing heavy weather"

~Jethro Tull~
'Heavy Horses'

Full moon rising on Rivenrock, Dec. 11, 2000

'Weathercock'
~Jethro Tull~
Good morning Weathercock: How'd you fare last night?
Did the cold wind bite you, did you face up to the fright?
When the leaves spin from October and whip around your tail,
Did you shake from the blast, did you shiver through the gale?

Give us direction; the best of goodwill,
Put us in touch with your fair winds.
Sing to us softly, hum evening's song,
tell us what the blacksmith has done for you.

Do you simply reflect changes in the patterns of the sky,
Or is it true the weather heeds the twinkle in your eye?
Do you fight the rush of winter; do you hold snowflakes at bay,
Do you lift the dawn sun from the fields and help him on his way?

Good morning Weathercock: make this day bright.
Put us in touch with your fair winds.
Sing to us softly, hum evening's song
Point the way to better days we can share with you.
 

Sycamore turning to gold, Dec. 2000

In Europe in the last centuries, military conscription took place in Autumn after the harvest.
This is a Hungarian song about sorrow for the newly enlisted soldiers leaving their home to go off to war.

THE TIME IS AUTUMN
ÖSZ AZ IDO

Taken from the liner notes
'Muzsikas, Blues for Transylvania'

The time is Autumn,the wind is cold.
The leaves they are a-falling.
Many a mother would pick them all,
If she could save her son from the Army

Winter's cold, and winter freezes,
I can't stay another moment.
I must go and serve in the Army,
And leave behind my dear beloved

Even the bird laments my leaving,
And the bough bends to the ground.
Even the bird laments my leaving,
And the bough bends to the ground.

Fallen Liquidamber leaves, December 2000

Liquidamber styraciflua