WITH these dead leaves stripped from a withered tree, And slowly fluttering round us, gentle friend, Some faithless soul a sad presage might blend; To me they bring a happier augury; Lives that shall bloom in genial sunshine free, Nursed by the spell Love's dews and breezes send, And when a kindly Fate shall speak the end, Down dropping in Time's autumn silently; All hopes fulfilled, all passions duly blessed, Life's cup of gladness drained, except the lees, No more to fear or long for, but the rest Which crowns existence with its dreamless ease; Thus when our days are ripe, oh! let us fall Into that perfect Peace which waits for all! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 2 by CONRAD AIKEN IN A SWEDISH GRAVEYARD by EMMA LAZARUS VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 2. OFF ALGIERS by SARA TEASDALE LIFE [AND DEATH] by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD TO ANTHEA [WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANYTHING] by ROBERT HERRICK |