THE leaves are sere and turning brown, And swirling as they tumble down; The dusky smoke from archway flies In curls and waves athwart the skies; The summer clouds of rarest blue, To sombre grey have changed their hue; The boughs are bending on the trees And swaying with each passing breeze; A mournful sound is in the air, An ululation of despair; The dreary rain begins to fall, Which throws an added gloom o'er all. Dame Nature weeps o'er glories fled, Evanished beauties—beauties dead. The lovely buds and blossoms gay, With winter's chill have passed away; The music of the joyous bird In bush and tree, no more is heard. The wailing wind and sobbing rain Alone are voiced upon the plain. And shall I sing in joyous strain, With lips benumbed and heart in pain, A pæan glad, an anthem loud, While vanished hopes are in their shroud? The hopes of youth forever fled, My early friends now lost or dead— For them I sigh and sadly mourn, My aching heart for them is torn. I @3cannot@1 sing a gladsome note, 'Twill die before it leaves my throat. My frozen heart can but essay. A solemn dirge—a mournful lay. Then welcome night, that screens from sight The barren waste—the winter's blight. Within thy folds of sable hue, I'll hide my tired heart from view. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WRITTEN AFTER SWIMMING FROM SESTOS TO ABYDOS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON DO YOU FEAR THE WIND? by HAMLIN GARLAND SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE. 6. IN THE CEMETERY by THOMAS HARDY THE DEFENSE OF THE ALAMO [MARCH 6, 1835] by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER THE SCHOOL GIRL by WILLIAM HENRY VENABLE THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONAUTICA): THE SAILING OF THE ARGO by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS |