Autumn

November 17, 2009 9:09 AM

Autumn, by Roger Ebert. The season of new beginnings and the forever-remembered smell of burning leaves.

Ebert, in his journal, seems to be wrapping up the details of his life.

posted by Turtles all the way down (14 comments total)

HIs journal entries are so sad now, a friend's long goodbye. What a beautiful way to close out a career.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:31 AM on November 17, 2009 [7 favorites]

"It was late on a crisp autumn evening, after walking a girl home, reciting 'Come into my den, said the spider et cetera,' that I made love for the first time."
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:39 AM on November 17, 2009

The first video linked at the bottom of Ebert's writing, based on the still-frame I thought it was going to be a b/w Rickroll. (It isn't.)

My own favorite Autumn song.
posted by hippybear at 9:52 AM on November 17, 2009

My own favorite Autumn song.

mine. Not explicitly autumn, but oh, the feeling is there.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:59 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Herbsttag"

Lord God: it's time. The summer is grown great.
Set down your shadow on the sun's brass hours
and loose the winds upon the fields.

Then lead the late fruits to their fullness;
grant them yet a few more austral days
to urge their ripeness and to course
a lasting sweetness through the heavy wine.

Those yet without a house will build no more.
Those yet alone will long be left alone,
will wake at night to read, compose long letters
or wander up and down the avenues
uneasy, as the leaves scatter.
posted by Iridic at 10:09 AM on November 17, 2009 [9 favorites]

Forever Autumn.
posted by grounded at 10:12 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]

For my money (which isn't a lot), Roger Ebert is the best blogger out there today. I've been tempted to FPP at least half his posts.
posted by kmz at 10:30 AM on November 17, 2009 [10 favorites]

Leaves are fallin' all around, time I was on my way
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay
but now it's time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way
for now I smell the rain, and with it, pain
and it's headed my way
Aw, sometimes I grow so tired
but I know I've got one thing I got to do
posted by Sailormom at 10:32 AM on November 17, 2009 [3 favorites]

Autumn Leaves - Coldcut / Mixmaster Morris Irresistible Force Mix
posted by carter at 11:33 AM on November 17, 2009 [1 favorite]

Prufrock is probably my all-time favorite poem, which made reading Ebert's post that much better. I used to perform it in high school speech tournaments.
posted by yiftach at 11:55 AM on November 17, 2009

My favorite autumn song. It always seems especially bittersweet to see or hear Eva Cassidy perform Autumn Leaves.
posted by bearwife at 3:05 PM on November 17, 2009

It always seems especially bittersweet to see or hear Eva Cassidy perform Autumn Leaves.

It's especially bittersweet to hear Eva Cassidy perform anything. If I ever want to feel misty, I know to cue up "I Know You by Heart" and "Fields of Gold."
posted by Iridic at 4:54 PM on November 17, 2009

Wonderful.

I'm from central Illinois originally. It really can be magical. Winter is still my favorite of the seasons in the Midwest but Autumn is quite precious as well. Thanks for the post, made my morning.
posted by IvoShandor at 4:29 AM on November 18, 2009

Ebert isn't in danger anymore of dying any time soon is he? The first comment made me concerned. I assumed he's still in remission, albeit without of voice and most of a jaw.
posted by Danf at 10:50 AM on November 18, 2009