Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FALL OF THE LEAVES, by HENRY VAN DYKE Poet's Biography First Line: In warlike pomp, with banners flowing Last Line: Among the rustling memories of the dead. Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus Subject(s): Change; Seasons | ||||||||
I IN warlike pomp, with banners flowing, The regiments of autumn stood: I saw their gold and scarlet glowing From every hillside, every wood. Above the sea the clouds were keeping Their secret leaguer, gray and still; They sent their misty vanguard creeping With muffled step from hill to hill. All day the sullen armies drifted Athwart the sky with slanting rain; At sunset for a space they lifted, With dusk they settled down again II At dark the winds began to blow With mutterings distant, low; From sea and sky they called their strength, Till with an angry, broken roar, Like billows on an unseen shore, Their fury burst at length. I heard through the night The rush and the clamour; The pulse of the fight Like blows of Thor's hammer; The pattering flight Of the leaves, and the anguished Moan of the forest vanquished. At daybreak came a gusty song: "Shout! the winds are strong. The little people of the leaves are fled. Shout! The Autumn is dead!" III The storm is ended! The impartial sun Laughs down upon the battle lost and won, And crowns the triumph of the cloudy host In rolling lines retreating to the coast. But we, fond lovers of the woodland shade, And grateful friends of every fallen leaf, Forget the glories of the cloud-parade, And walk the ruined woods in quiet grief. For ever so our thoughtful hearts repeat On fields of triumph dirges of defeat; And still we turn on gala-days to tread Among the rustling memories of the dead. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NO AUTUMN IN MY COUNTRY by MEENA ALEXANDER AFTER TU FU (THEY SAY YOU'RE STAYING IN A MOUNTAIN TEMPLE) by MARVIN BELL HE HAD A GOOD YEAR by MARVIN BELL SO IT'S TODAY by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR CONTRA MORTEM: THE FALL by HAYDEN CARRUTH LITTLE BOATIE'; A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD by HENRY VAN DYKE |
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