It's officially here. The moment I've been waiting for and dreaming of all summer. In celebration of this delicious moment, I bought two brand new pairs of...woolly socks.Here's a wonderfully evocative poem for the kickoff of "woolly sock season" by one of my favorite poets, Donald Hall.
Orange Knee Socks
When he lies in the night away from her,
the backs of his eyelids burn.
He turns in the darkness as if it were an oven.
The flesh parches and he lies awake
thinking of everything wrong.
In the morning when he goes to meet her,
his heart struggles at his ribs
like an animal trapped in its burrow.
Then he sees her running to meet him,
red-faced with hurry and cold.
She stumbles over the snow.
Her knees above orange knee socks
bob in a froth of the hems
of skirt and coat and petticoat.
Her eyes have not shut all night.
I like that poem a lot!Have a great weekend Willow!:)
ReplyDeleteHello Willow,
ReplyDeleteI was just RSVP-ing for the ball and here you jump out in your new woolly socks! Great poem. My heart quickened at the thought of petticoat frills!
Oh, Derrick, glad you can come! The ball wouldn't be the same without the oh-so-classy you! :)
ReplyDeleteJust when I was planning on taking my wooly sweaters out of the cedar chest. Such a lovely poem, Willow! By the way, I plan on attending the ball. And I'm so looking forward to meeting Mr. Depp!
ReplyDeleteWillow,
ReplyDeleteKnee Socks and sleepless nights, but not too much longer. :>)
Did you buy orange ones?
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't buy orange ones, but probably would have, if I'd seen some! I got the black and white tweedy ones in the pic.
ReplyDeleteOrange Sock Season, indeed!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has announced she's knitting socks for family Christmas gifts. I'm thrilled & anxious ... .
but, know it will be worth the wait.
Finally!
ReplyDeleteSomeone who shares the same joy.
Woolly socks just melt my heart
and that poem...I swoon.
Do you sock skate?
I can never pass up a good slide across a wooden floor :)
Peace - Rene
Rene, I've been a sock skater since I was five. :^)
ReplyDeleteWill you be wearing woolly socks under your designer ballgown....or will we have to guess?
ReplyDeleteMary, I'm going to start out in my designer stilettos, but I'm sure a few hours into the evening, I will be changing to the woollies!
ReplyDeleteLove this weather! I need new slippers and wish I had already bought them!
ReplyDeletelove it! just about ready to pull out my knitting!!
ReplyDeleteI do love the look and feel of woolly socks but I am allergic -booo
ReplyDeletebut the poem is lovely.
LOVE wooly socks! WHAT a treat!
ReplyDeleteNow, as a child when KNEE socks were all the rage I took great pleasure in the MANY colors I had in my drawer and picking JUST the RIGHT pair for my dress for school. My girls would DIE if I asked them to wear a dress to school!
Bedsocks 4 me now that winter is on the way in!
ReplyDeleteWarm toes equals a good night's rest!
I love woolly socks! I started wearing them in college in the 70's with my Olaf Daughters clogs. If your feet are warm, so is the rest of you. And love the spider! Odilon Redon is one of my favorite artists. I've never understood why he is not more celebrated. The spider is beautiful and creepy crawly and perfect for the season.
ReplyDeleteI'm the odd man out here I suppose. I've never been one to wear socks. They make my feet too hot and once my feet are hot the rest of me is unbearable. In the future, if you happen to catch me in socks you'll know I must be about to freeze solid.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so envious. Wish it was cold enough to wear warm woolies. Great poem!
ReplyDeleteI loved the pace of this poem.
ReplyDeleteI'm in my first pullover of the season today - the t-shirts and blouses are now at the back of the wardrobe
Yes the perfect day, added to the fact today I'm switching my closets from summer to fall/winter clothes! Yes! Raising my coffee cup in a toast to wooly socks.
ReplyDeleteKnee socks and petticoats? This really is to much for a man of my years...and orange ones to boot.
ReplyDeleteWow. I liked it, I did! And got me wooly socks all ready t' go for the winter. Happy week-end, Willow :)
ReplyDeleteAnd love the spiders in the side-bar!!
oh wow, that was beautiful imagery answering the anticipation...happy wooly sock season!
ReplyDeleteWoolly socks! Gosh is it that time already - I haven't even found mine yet. And I still haven't found anything to wear at the ball - nor a partner (was going to be Rick Stein but I think he has gone past his best so am searching for a younger model.)
ReplyDeleteI'm still going barefoot but at least the killer heat is gone.
ReplyDeleteWool sock season has not yet reached DC but I expect within two or three weeks I'll be reaching for mine.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting that you're throwing another ball this year. Can't wait!
these look so comfy. love the poem.
ReplyDeleteI'm still thinking about the ball, the anticipation cancelling everything else.
ReplyDeleteLove woolly socks now that woolly socks keep me dancing on bare floors, practicising for that ball. I'm still a bit confused about what to do, where to rent a gown, get my hair done, oh my!
p.s. I stopped too early.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Erin's blog yesterday. Thanks for your support and encouragement.You sustain and inspire.
This poem is a great example of the enormous talent you possess and share so generously.
Great poem. I'm starting to kick mine off now - getting warm here.
ReplyDeleteI like Donald Hall too. No woolie socks but I do have some warm fuzzy slippers.
ReplyDeleteWhere is my favorite little picture! Thank goodness I swiped it already.
ReplyDeleteI am not excited about weather that will make us wear wool socks! :)
I saw that wonderful black and fire image come up - and I had to zip over here to check out what's ablaze. It's October! And fall does bring back memories of school - and knee socks!
ReplyDeleteNo wool here yet - in fact, hardly ever any wool here. I gave away all my down and wool when I moved south. But I did resort to my flannel robe the other morning! And soon it will time for an October fire to warm a chilly night.
nothing beats Wooly socks, a good book and a cup of hot spiced tea! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the socks and the poem! It's definitely chilly weather here near the Canadian border of Washington state. I'm happy with it--I much prefer lugging stuff around campuses in chilly weather than when it's sweltering.
ReplyDeleteLove the poem, it conjures great images...YAY...fall! YIPPPPEEEEE!
ReplyDeletemuch love!
enjoy!
sweaters and socks and corduroys and my barn jacket!!!! aaaaah, fall is here!
ReplyDeletesuch an interesting poem. i like the image of her knees bobbing above her orange knee socks!
Lovely little poem and congratulations on the yummy thick socks.
ReplyDeleteOrange you something,
ReplyDeleteno orange socks? ;-)
Happy Sunday!
MOTH has worn a pair of navy & red stripe Melbourne Football Club socks to bed every night of our 15 year marriage. They are the biggest passion-killers known to mankind. So sorry sweet Willow, while I'm sure they have their place, I detest woolly socks!
ReplyDeleteMillie ^_^
willow i laughed when i read this and saw this because a week ago i pulled on my long woolies for the first time because the bike ride was going to be on the cool side - three celsius. it felt so weird having something cover up my calves but i was glad for the warmth!!! sweet autumn day at the manor willow. steven
ReplyDeleteOooooooohhhhh!
ReplyDeleteI love how many thing I learn from you. This blog is better than my PhD!
I wish knee socks were not made for those with short legs .. just sayin
ReplyDeleteFun poem
Daryl, back in my knee sock wearing days, I always wished they were a tad longer. They never quite touched my bird-leg knees.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, that was the best thing you could have told me. Thank you, dear friend. I'm enouraged to blog another day.
ReplyDeleteSocks! how marvellous for winter..
ReplyDeleteI shall definitely make a date and swing by the Manor Ball, from the other side of the world!
I think I am one of the few men who finds wooly sox sexy. Go figure. There is nothing like a woman in the autumn wearing a big bulky gray sweater, wooly socks, and cheeks slightly reddened by the cool air. Here's to wooly socks and to autumn.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous poem, Willow. I wonder what tale of many cities is knitting. I'm working on a pair of woolly socks, that being my favourite knitting project. ;>) Mine won't be orange, though. Grey-blue Regia Silk (55% wool, 20% silk, the rest a synthetic for strength). 'Tis the season.
ReplyDeleteLove the socks, and your new pic!
ReplyDeleteWhat a poem that is, wow!
Sock It To Me!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are lovely. And the new photo of you is spectacular. Such gorgeous color.
ReplyDeleteI remember those days. Woolen underwear itched all the way to school and back.The only thing I can remember worse than that was the Army woolen uniforms that itched from San Francisco to Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Sock weather!
ReplyDeleteWalking by the kindergarten class last week, I was hailed by the teacher. She and the students were making a list of things they loved about fall and they wanted me to add to their list. I told them I loved fall because I get to wear warm socks. And they clapped.
Everyone loves socks, it seems.
I love knee socks! OVER knee socks are only ever so slightly preferable- IMHO.
ReplyDeleteFor me skirt season's just begun because of 'em delicious socks - well, and boots to go with them.
But I absolutely do need a good night's sleep...
So many people are bemoaning summer's end.
ReplyDeleteYou and I revel.
Hurrah for autumn, cooler temps and wooly socks!
Love that poem; I don't know it. THANK YOU for always introducing me to good stuff.
ReplyDeleteToday we had the first really chilly, wet day . . . and it wasn't so great, actually. I like woolly sock days as long as I get to stay inside! (Is that your secret?)
one of my favorite things about living in New Hampshire is that Donald Hall is one of us.
ReplyDeletedeb meyers