The Quiet Hours of November

Deep Autumn Series Vol.4

November changes the way an afternoon ends.

The day may begin beneath a clear autumn sky, with sunlight still warming the trees and streets.

But afternoon seems to pass more quickly now.

The sun moves lower.

Shadows stretch across the ground.

And before we quite expect it, the light begins to fade.

By late afternoon, windows along familiar streets start to glow.

A lamp comes on inside a small room.

Warm light appears behind a curtain.

Someone returns home as the last sunlight disappears from the rooftops.

These November hours have a particular quietness.

The world has not yet entered winter.

Many trees still hold their autumn colors, and fallen leaves continue to gather along paths and gardens.

But the days no longer feel endless.

Perhaps that makes us notice them more.

The final sunlight touching a wall.

The sound of footsteps along a street growing darker.

The warmth of a room waiting beyond the cold evening air.

Even the trees begin to look different.

More leaves fall each day, opening small spaces between the branches where we can see the evening sky.

Soon, those branches will become bare.

But not yet.

For now, a little color remains.

A little light remains.

And in the quiet hours of November, perhaps that is enough reason to slow down and notice both before they disappear.

If you missed the previous article in this series, you can read Warm Tea on a Cool Afternoon.