Soon Shall the Winter’s Foil Be Here
—Walt Whitman
I know by the tingling tease in the autumn air that soon
the trees will begin to show their yearly alteration, and I shall
need to readjust my thoughts to cooler days. Winter's
onslaught will not be sudden, so there is time to foil
the threat of howling winds and drifting snow, but I must be
prepared. I have been too long with summer, so here
and now, I divest myself of thoughts of beaches. Around here,
no walks in the woods or open windows or mowing lawns. Soon,
driving will be difficult, and endless, carefree days will be
replaced by cabin fever. The sweat of days in the sun will
give way to shivers, and turning up the furnace to foil
the creeping cold, a cruel reminder of the fact that winter's
taking over. I can hope that this will be a year like those winters
when the snow holds off till after New Year's, that it will be
warm enough to venture forth without the encumbrances to foil
the frost: boots, gloves, scarves, and fur-lined ear warmers. Soon,
the garden must be put to bed, storm windows washed, and I will
still not be ready. Sometimes, I admit, foreboding can be
more daunting than actuality, and a storm can be
less devastating than predictions. In all my winters,
seldom have I skidded off the road or fallen, so I shall
brace myself for this one, and when finally it is here,
accept it. Meanwhile, autumn activities abound. As soon
as I've taken all the steps I can to foil
winter, I shall consider it, not as a rival, but a foil
to all the fun furnished by the season. Till then, fall is
all around, with Halloween and Thanksgiving, and soon,
the Christmas shopping. Now the leaves know winter's
on its way and are changing clothes and colors, here
but for a time, too soon to fade and fall. And I shall
hike in the country to see the trees, plan a picnic that will
include chicken and salad and dessert all wrapped in foil
spread out upon a blanket. While this fair weather is still here,
I can go about in shirtsleeves and shorts, sit outdoors, and be
free of all the encumbrances brought on by winter.
Let me revel in this weather that will end too soon.
With all my attempts to foil the ravages of winter,
I am aware that when I have become resigned to it, I shall
dread the time when spring is here; it comes too soon.
