A Leaf Falling In A Northern October

Poul Anderson's The Man Who Counts presents many colorful comparisons. I have quoted several already, e.g., van Rijn is like an old steam locomotive. Here is another from the concluding chapter:

"Sandra wheeled over and laid a hand on Wace's. It was a cool touch, light as a leaf falling in a northern October, but it burned him." (XXII, p. 289)

"October" alone is evocative enough. One Ray Bradbury collection is entitled The October Country.

All that happens in Anderson's text is that Sandra touches Wace. But her touch is light. It is like a leaf, like a leaf falling in October, in a northern October... Poul Anderson adds details until his prose becomes poetry.