Nothing Like It

November began in Thomas Hood mode – 'No sun – no moon! No morn – no noon', etc. However, the morning fog gradually thinned, and suddenly the sun came through – glorious mellow sunlight, illuminating the beautiful autumn colours. There is something special about sunshine in November, as Edward Thomas knew – THERE'S nothing like the sun as the year dies,Kind as it can be, this world being made so,To stones and men and beasts and birds and flies,To all things that it touches except snow,Whether on mountain side or street of town.The south wall warms me: November has begun,Yet never shone the sun as fair as nowWhile the sweet last-left damsons from the boughWith spangles of the morning's storm drop downBecause the starling shakes it, whistling whatOnce swallows sang. But I have not forgotThat there is nothing, too, like March's sun,Like April's, or July's, or June's, or May's,Or January's, or February's, great days:And August, September, October, and DecemberHave equal days, all…