HARSH Autumn hides in the Eden hues of Spring. —The crocus and dew-shaking celandine, Evening's enchanted thrush, the lesser wing Of hosts that hour nor station choose to sing But pour daylong delight; the snaky line Of new-slough'd woods with glittering yellow shine; Birds, gilded grass, the budless boughs and buds Breaking, but most that never-faithless thrush, Spring's pioneers, her heedless army's floods, And vast camp-followers' merry multitudes— Are weak, or traitors; in one startled hush Of song and motion, at the sun's fevered flush, They shake, pale, yield. The giant Ghost of Time— Dumb Titan—now disarms them, they are undone. Fantastic oak, fierce beech, willow and lime, The birds that nigh heaven's starry Orchard climb, Recall how once they heard, 'neath Spring's shrill tone, Far-off, saturnine Autumn stumbling on. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH: FOR A LADY I KNOW by COUNTEE CULLEN THE PHANTOM SHIP by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW RIDDLE: A CANDLE by MOTHER GOOSE SUMMER (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI DESERT WIFE by NELLIE COOLEY ALDER FATHERHOOD by CHARLOTTE LOUISE BERTLESEN |