RHC Fortnightly Quotemail
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo
on X)
Vol. XXIX, No. 20: October 2025
·
Co-Editor: Sophie Fairgate
·
Editorial Associate: Wendy Applegate
·
Art Director: Verena Keegan (Designer of the Masthead)
·
Creative Consultant: Meadow Morgenfeld
·
Book Reviewer: Mallory Jamison
Autumn is the
season of change, the time when the weather begins to turn cooler and the
leaves start to change color. It's a beautiful and bittersweet time of year, as
we say goodbye to the bright sunshine and warm temperatures of summer, but also
greet the crisp, fresh air and cozy, comfortable feeling of autumn. This is a
season of transition, and it's a great time to reflect on the year so far and
to look ahead to the future with optimism and enthusiasm. As the seasons
change, so too do our lives.
Last fall, Sophie visited the pumpkin patch at our
local apple orchard! (Digital image processed by the Editor.)
“The Beauty of Autumn”
By Janissa Gladstone,
Staff Writer
As the leaves on trees change their hue,
A golden yellow and bright red,
The leaves float gracefully down to the ground below,
A reminder of the beauty that nature provides.
Each leaf is unique, each one has its own story to tell,
As the wind carries them through the air,
An ode to the wonder and beauty of the season,
The trees' way of saying thank-you
For the warmth of the Sun and the life-giving water,
The cycle of the seasons continues once more,
A reminder of the endless beauty and wonder of nature.
“Johnny Appleseed:
Pioneer Nurseryman”
By Rob Chappell, M.A.,
Editor
Adapted and Expanded from
Cursus Honorum VI: 3 (October 2005)
Ever since my
Kindergarten class took a field trip to a local apple orchard in September
1973, I’ve been a perennial fan of Johnny Appleseed. The pioneer hero who
headed west from his New England home to bring apple trees to the pioneers (and
Native Americans) captured my imagination at an early age and has never let it
go. Johnny has many exemplary lessons to teach up-and-coming leaders of today.
Venturing outside your comfort zone to explore what lies beyond the horizon,
building bridges of peace and understanding through generosity, and promoting
self-sufficiency in harmony with sustainable growth are just a few of the gems
that we can glean from learning about Johnny and his life story. Just like
Johnny, our leaders can become trailblazers, peacemakers, and philanthropists –
and our need for these types of people only grows with each passing year, as
our global civilization continues to expand and grow in new and unexpected
ways.
Johnny Appleseed,
one of America’s most beloved homegrown heroes, has been the subject of
countless poems, folksongs, novels, plays, and even a Walt Disney cartoon.
Johnny’s appeal has vastly increased over the past fifty years, concurrent with
the emergence of global concern over rampant deforestation and the drive to
develop sustainable agriculture on a worldwide scale. Behind the
larger-than-life legend of Johnny Appleseed, however, there was once an
admirable historical person: John Chapman, a pioneer nurseryman from New
England.
John Chapman was
born on September 26, 1774 near Leominster, Massachusetts. Details of
his childhood are sketchy, but he learned to read and write at an early age and
evidently chose to follow an arboricultural career in his teens, for by the
time he was 25, he had already planted apple orchards in the western counties
of New York and Pennsylvania. During the early 1800s, he pushed farther west
into Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois – planting apple trees all over the
wilderness, where they could be enjoyed by the arriving settlers.
Wherever he
journeyed on the frontier, Chapman earned the respect and trust of the Native
Americans and coexisted peacefully with the wild animals. He practiced
vegetarianism, never carried a weapon of any kind, and was by all accounts an
amiable and hard-working person. Although he led a solitary life in the
wilderness for weeks or months at a time, he enjoyed interacting with the
people who crossed his path and regaling them with stories of his frontier
adventures. It is estimated that he planted millions of apple seeds during his
fifty years of arboricultural activity; this was his lifelong philanthropic
service to our country.
Johnny Appleseed,
as he came to be known in his later years, reposed near Fort Wayne, Indiana, on
March 11, 1845. His grave has become a historic site, as have other places
where he once lived and labored. Descendants of his original apple trees can
still be found throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and his legacy of
philanthropic arboriculture is still celebrated at annual Midwestern festivals,
especially in the autumn, when apple cider is in season. His birthday –
September 26th – is celebrated as Johnny Appleseed Day in schools and towns
throughout the American Midwest, where he lived and worked for most of his
adult life.
Johnny Appleseed’s
popularity shows no sign of waning. He played many roles during his lifetime –
nurseryman, peacemaker, pioneer, and storyteller. In our own time, he has come
to represent such worthy causes as conservation, environmentalism, and sustainable
agriculture. John Chapman will no doubt continue to inspire generations yet to
come with his philanthropic life and trailblazing achievements that still
benefit his fellow Americans two centuries after his labors first began.
Further Reading
·
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Appleseed à Reference article about Johnny Appleseed, fully annotated with
bibliography and footnotes.
·
https://www.dltk-kids.com/CRAFTS/MISCELLANEOUS/johnny_appleseed_grace.htm à Here are the lyrics and music for the “Johnny Appleseed Song” that I
learned in Kindergarten, from Disney’s classic animated film, Melody Time
(1948).
·
https://www.johnnyappleseedmuseum.org/
à The Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum is located on the
campus of Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio.
Idunn
is the Norse goddess who cultivates the golden apples of immortality within her
sacred grove in Asgard, the home of the Norse pantheon. (Digital image by the
Editor.)
“A Seed of Hope”
By Jill Prydain, Staff
Writer
A solitary man traveled through the American frontier.
With a bag of seeds and a Bible in his hand,
he made his way through the wilderness,
sowing apples wherever he went,
and leaving a gift of fruit trees behind in his path.
He was none other than John Chapman,
known to all as Johnny Appleseed.
He loved the land and everything therein,
Its plants and animals he loved with all his heart.
His kind nature made him a friend to foxes, deer, and bears;
he was even seen giving his last crust of bread to a pair
of lost and frightened crows that came to him, crying softly for help.
But it wasn't just nature and animals that John cherished;
he deeply cared for the human race as well.
He believed in the equality of all people,
and would not stand for the cruel treatment of any,
especially those he believed to be the downtrodden and disadvantaged.
He preached with his deeds of loving service to others,
and he was a gentle example of love toward all.
He often wore tattered, frayed clothing,
and walked all over the land in simple homemade deerskin moccasins.
Some thought this odd; some thought him mad;
others merely ignored him as if he weren't even there.
But he never took the mockery or ignorance personally;
he simply continued on his way, sowing more seeds of hope.
In his final years, John grew more feeble,
and the once nimble man moved with a halting step.
But even when his body began to fail, he was determined
to go forward with his goal of spreading hope,
and continued to plant apple seeds until the end.
Even now, years after his death (when he lived a ripe old age),
people continue to eat the fruits of his labor, and enjoy the sweetness
of his legacy.
“Book Review of Fungi
from Yuggoth: A Sonnet Cycle by H. P. Lovecraft”
By Mallory Jamison, Book Reviewer
H. P. Lovecraft's
poem cycle, Fungi from Yuggoth, takes readers on an otherworldly
journey filled with cosmic horror and supernatural mystery. The work weaves
together a narrative that defies conventional logic and delves into realms of
the unknown.
Through the use of
vivid imagery and a masterful command of language, Lovecraft paints a picture
of a world where the ordinary blurs into the extraordinary. The poems in Fungi
from Yuggoth are haunting and evocative, leaving readers with a sense
of unease and the feeling that there are secrets lurking just out of sight.
What sets Fungi
from Yuggoth apart from other works of cosmic horror is its focus on
the natural world and the way Lovecraft draws parallels between the flora and
fauna of this world and the unknowable entities that populate it. The poems
explore themes of existence, reality, and the limits of human understanding,
leaving readers questioning the nature of the universe and the place of
humankind within it.
The rhythm and
pacing of Fungi from Yuggoth are also noteworthy. Lovecraft
employs a unique meter and rhyme scheme that lends an almost musical quality to
the poems, adding to their hypnotic effect. The work is both eerie and
beautiful, capturing the imagination and pulling readers into its strange and
unsettling world.
In conclusion, Fungi
from Yuggoth is an exceptional work of cosmic horror that showcases
H.P. Lovecraft's unique literary style and his uncanny ability to weave
together a world that is both familiar and utterly alien. The poem cycle is not
only a must-read for fans of the genre, but also for anyone who appreciates the
beauty and power of words.
“Falling Leaves, Fading
Sunlight”
By Solveig Nielsen, Staff
Writer
wrapping nature in a tranquil embrace.
Leaves, like a golden canopy,
slowly descend under the watchful eye of the waning sun.
As sunlight yields to the lengthening nights,
shadows deepen and the air tingles with a fresh chill.
The woodland creatures prepare for the slumbering months,
knowing winter's harsh dance approaches.
In the autumn dusk, the stars start to twinkle among the branches,
as if nature is adorned with celestial sparkle.
The forest floor is carpeted with a medley of colors –
a symphony of yellow, burnt orange, and scarlet.
In the autumn breeze, a gentle whisper of nostalgia tinges the air,
as if nature itself is singing a lullaby of the passing season. The
woodland creatures huddle together amidst the fallen leaves,
preparing for their winter rest.
As the first snowflakes begin their silent descent,
a sense of tranquility envelops the forest.
The world is silent save for the occasional hoot of an owl,
marking the seasonal transition in its own melodic manner.
“Singing of Saturn”
By Zenaida Sterling,
Staff Writer
Editor’s Note: Saturn was the divine
patron of the harvest in ancient Roman religion, and the planet Saturn reached
opposition on Sunday, September 21.
in the void where stars are born,
Whispers of cosmic wonder,
stories untold and forlorn.
Amidst the rings that shine and glimmer,
Saturn stands steadfast and serene,
A silent guardian of secrets untold,
the keeper of dreams and deep, divine.
With eyes that gaze both backward and forward,
an ancient world that time has left unblemished,
Saturn holds the wisdom of ages,
the knowledge of the stars and their cherished wishes.
In the dance of celestial bodies,
in the whispers of the cosmic wind,
Saturn waltzes and leads the heavenly dance,
a beacon of strength and of hope profound.
As time turns its celestial hourglass,
as the cosmos moves ever on,
Saturn remains a constant reminder,
of the balance and rhythms that have shone.
The planet Saturn, as seen from the hazy surface of
its largest moon, Titan. (Digital image by the poet, as processed by the
Editor.)
Introducing Meadow
Morgenfeld, Creative Consultant
By the Editor
Below: Meadow prepares to record a podcast in her home office. (Digital image processed by the Editor.)
I am delighted to introduce our readers to the newest member of our blogging team – the incomparable Meadow Morgenfeld! Meadow is a true Renaissance woman who loves poetry, mythology, and art. Here is a poem that she wrote to introduce herself to you, our readers:
In the garden of pages where myth and moment blend,
I step as storyteller, a guide and a friend.
With symbols and seasons, we'll weave and create,
In a circle of stories where soul and art relate.
Please join me in welcoming Meadow! 😊
The Bardic Gorsedd
An Original Poem by Viviana Rivera & Rhiannon
Blythe, Staff Writers
"Autumn Constellations:
A Poetic Journey Through the Night Sky"
As the leaves turn golden brown,
And the air grows crisp and cold,
In the evening sky, a spectacle is found,
As the stars come out to play, and the constellations
unfold.
Orion, the hunter, strides across the night,
His arrow drawn tight, his bow in hand,
And the three stars of his belt, forever a sight,
A guiding beacon through the autumn land.
Aquarius, the great water bearer,
Pours his streams of stars across the endless sky,
While Taurus, the bull, with his horns raised high,
Marks the change of seasons, as the days begin to die.
In Virgo, the maiden, with her sheaf of wheat,
The Sun shines brilliantly, the goddess of harvest,
In the midst of the zodiac, a sight so sweet,
A cosmic reminder of the earth's fertility and
abundance.
Scorpius, the scorpion, his sharp tail raised aloft,
Glides across the southern sky, seeking his prize,
With the bright star Antares, in the heart of his
chest,
As the autumn constellations take their cosmic flight.
Sagittarius, the archer, draws his bow,
Aiming his arrow towards the galactic core,
With the bright star Deneb, Cygnus’ guiding star,
As the autumn constellations mark the changing
season's score.
Capricornus, the goat, leaps with his mighty horns,
Representing the changing seasons' arrival,
While Pisces, the fish, glide through the cosmic sea,
A symbol of the changing tides, as the autumn's story is drawn to a close,
and the winter sky takes its place in the night.
Catena Aurea (The Golden
Chain)
By Tamsin Lambengolmo, Staff Writer
"O bountiful harvest time! O rich fruits of the earth! O golden corn! O purple grapes!"
This quote comes
from the Orphic Hymn to Demeter, which invokes the Greek divinity
associated with the harvest and agriculture. The poem expresses praise for the
abundance of the harvest season, highlighting the variety and color of the
fruits that are gathered for human consumption. The corn and grapes are
associated with their colors: corn is considered a golden cereal crop, while
grapes are known for their purple hue.
Here's a quote from the ancient Japanese text, Kokin Wakashū (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems):
"Autumn's harvest moon shines bright,
Gently swaying, a field of harvest in sight.
Grain stalks bowing to the breeze,
A time of abundance, a golden season."
As the poem conveys, harvest time can be likened to a period of
fruitful abundance, whether it's the literal harvest of grain stalks or the
metaphorical harvest of our life experiences. It's a natural seasonal cycle of
growth, change, and gratitude.
Sapientia Borealis
(Northern Wisdom)
By Toni
Thorvald, Staff Writer
I have a fitting proverb about the harvest that I think you'll enjoy. It's from the Middle High German poem "Des Minnesangs Frühling" (1340) by Neidhart von Reuental:
"Die Ernte bringt Freud und Leid,
Sie ist des Jahres höchstes Gut."
In English, this proverb translates to, "The harvest
brings joy and woe, it is the year's greatest benefit."
This proverb
captures the bittersweet nature of the harvest. While it is a time of abundance
and plenty, the harvest also signifies the end of summer and a transition to
the colder months ahead.
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