Early light not darkness; seagulls squawking, before body and clock time have adjusted to each other; a calm autumn morning breaking early and a watery sun is at least making an effort - the change of clock always brings change with it and its as if the season knows changes have been made - though how can it, a season cannot think. But it would be a mistake not to register the changes as we see them appear. Neruda wrote, 'I remember you as you were in the last autumn/ You were the grey beret and the still heart.' and I like how he takes these images together, the grey beret and the still heart, the physical and the emotional. But this time of year, particularly right now seems to do that. Its the change and changes that bring the thoughts forward and into place. I had a terrible weekend, laid up and thoughtless (though I did get my marking done) but to paraphrase the song I wrote for graduation, I am going to 'walk into the light.' We give way to summer time and say hello to winter, it becomes official, daylight saving for mornings and early dark evenings. I will wear a grey beret and still my heart to listen for the change of the clock.
