I love October and poetry both. While I don't get to indulge in the poetry realm as much as I'd like (although I believe I'm going to change that now that I have an audience with whom to share that affinity), October's 'bright blue weather" has been especially vibrant this year, by virtue of both weather and an especially gorgeous showing of fall foliage. While I haven't memorized this poem by Helen Hunt Jackson (as I had memorized her "September" so many years ago), her "October's Bright Blue Weather" is perfect for sharing and for reflecting on what makes this month so special. Here's to all who consider October a special month, either because it's your birthday month, you love the season, or just because...

O Suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather;

When loud the bumble-bee makes haste
Belated, thriftless vagrant,
And Golden Rod is dying fast,
And lanes with grapes are fragrant;

When Gentians roll their fringes tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;

When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,
And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining;

When all the lovely wayside things
Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields, still green and fair,
Late aftermaths are growing;

When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,
Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods, for winter waiting;

When comrades seek sweet country haunts,
By twos and twos together,
And count like misers, hour by hour,
October's bright blue weather;

O Suns and skies and flowers of June,
Count all your boasts together,Love loveth best of all the year
October's bright blue weather.

Some hints for celebrating October - what's left of it - from your "concierge":

If you'd like to find a volume - antiquarian or new - containing this poem as well as other HHJ poems:
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?browse=0&keyword=helen+hunt+jackson+poems&mtype=B&hs.x=0&hs.y=0

or if you prefer:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=helen+hunt+jackson+poems&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ahelen+hunt+jackson+poems

If you are looking for a special gift for someone that has an October "flavor" to it, check out FTD's offerings. Aside from some gorgeous harvest bouquets, they also have roses in the colors of all the favorite colleges and universities (the college rose collection) ...
http://www.ftd.com/36000/catalog/category.epl?index_id=product_roses_college_lp&noparent_bread=1

... as well as a beautiful collection of "birthstone" roses (for October, the roses have been died to look like opals!) ...
http://www.ftd.com/36000/catalog/product.epl?product_id=FBDO

A final comment: If you happen to be out in the October "weather" with some "comrades" and find yourself passing a spreading chestunut tree (you're most likely in New England), pick up some of the glossy chestnuts that are sure to be lying on the ground and put and keep them in your pocket for winter ... they have a really satisfying feel as you roll them around in your pocket, bringing back memories of October days. If you can add a few small smoooth stones or shells to the mix, even better!

What does October mean to you?