Island Light: October’s Clock
Autumnal scene at Priester's Pond in West Tisbury.
Autumnal scene at Priester's Pond in West Tisbury.
Changing palette of color at the Polly Hill Arboretum.
Changing palette of color at the Polly Hill Arboretum.
Tha Far Barn at Polly Hill.
Tha Far Barn at Polly Hill.
Goldenrod blooms in the dunes along Lucy Vincent Beach.
Goldenrod blooms in the dunes along Lucy Vincent Beach.
Fragile clay cliffs at Lucy Vincent.
Fragile clay cliffs at Lucy Vincent.
Fishermen's nets washed ashore.
Fishermen's nets washed ashore.
Chappy ferries On Time II and On Time III pass on their routes.
Chappy ferries On Time II and On Time III pass on their routes.
Oak tree in a Chilmark pasture.
Oak tree in a Chilmark pasture.
Dinghies gathered together at the Head of the Lagoon.
Dinghies gathered together at the Head of the Lagoon.
Old Sculpin Gallery on Edgartown's waterfront.
Old Sculpin Gallery on Edgartown's waterfront.
Prize-winning boat at Derby Headquarters inspires fishermen.
Prize-winning boat at Derby Headquarters inspires fishermen.
October clouds above the East Chop Light on Telegraph Hill.
October clouds above the East Chop Light on Telegraph Hill.
Froggy has his eye on you.
Froggy has his eye on you.
Dukes Duo plays at the Ocean Park Bandstand.
Dukes Duo plays at the Ocean Park Bandstand.
Ferry Island Home on her way to Vineyard Haven port.
Ferry Island Home on her way to Vineyard Haven port.
Old Edgartown National Bank sign on the corner of Main and South Water streets.
Old Edgartown National Bank sign on the corner of Main and South Water streets.
Gannon and Benjamin boatyard.
Gannon and Benjamin boatyard.
Sailboats and masts fill Vineyard Haven harbor.
Sailboats and masts fill Vineyard Haven harbor.
Dinner time at Linda Jean's on Circuit avenue.
Dinner time at Linda Jean's on Circuit avenue.
Shoulder season nightlife in Oak Bluffs.
Shoulder season nightlife in Oak Bluffs.
Night off.
Night off.
The rhythms on the Vineyard shift as the winds change to the northeast. You can taste it in the October air on that last bracing sail before the boat goes into storage for another season. You can hear it in the recessional song of the Canada geese, honking southbound, and you can see it in the bright red of poison ivy vines along a favorite path. October’s clock slows and invites us to savor the moment.