Coming Home to Autumn

Autumn has always felt like a deep exhale to me.

After the bright, buzzing energy of summer, there’s something about the shift in the air—the misty mornings, the earlier dusks, the earthy smell of fallen leaves—that feels like coming home.

I find myself reaching for candles again, letting that gentle glow bring warmth into the corners of the house. The kettle is on more often, the mugs are bigger, and suddenly sweaters feel like comfort blankets I can carry with me.

Even walking the dog feels different—our breath visible in the crisp air, the sound of paws on fallen leaves, the quiet rhythm of the season reminding me to slow down.

There’s a magic in these smaller, quieter moments.

Autumn teaches me that life doesn’t always have to be grand to feel rich. That simple pleasures—the crunch of leaves underfoot, a favourite jumper, a hot drink after a walk—can be as fulfilling as fireworks.

Whilst out walking I was inspired to capture words that highlighted to me moments of autumn and from those words these two poems transpired, a reflection of how the season feels to me:

Coming Home

Yellow trees lean into the season,

their leaves falling soft as whispers,

Paws press into the earth,

crunching through paths of gold and brown

The air is sharp,

my breath rises like smoke

beside the eager clouds of theirs

Wind finds its way through my coat,

a reminder of shorter days,

wetter hours,

the slow pull toward home.

Inside -

a sweater waiting,

the warmth of tea cupped in both hands,

candles softening the edges of the evening

I pause,

and give thanks

for the gift of Autumn returning

for these walks

for the comfort of coming home

Autumn Walk

Rustic colours, and falling leaves

Paws that scatter, the earth that heaves.

Chilly days with sunset haze,

Breath like clouds in the fading rays.

The wind can bite, the days grow wetter,

But home is waiting with comfy sweater.

A heart-warming tea on an October day,

Candles flicker the chill away.

Colours that match with pumpkin patch,

Seasons turn, yet still they catch -

These golden hours, this fleeting light

Grateful I walk from day to night.

For me, autumn is more than just a season—it’s a reminder. A reminder that cycles are natural, that rest has value, that beauty doesn’t need to shout to be felt.

And as the days grow shorter, I find myself deeply grateful for the gentle invitation it offers: to slow down, to gather close, and to simply be.

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