New poems / by Madison Cawein [electronic text]

BY THE ANNISQUAM

A FAR bell tinkles in the hollow, And heart and soul are fain to follow: Gone is the rose and gone the swallow: Autumn is here.

The wild geese draw at dusk their harrow Above the 'Squam the ebb leaves narrow: The sea-winds chill you to the marrow: Sad goes the year.

Among the woods the crows are calling:The acorns and the leaves are falling: At sea the fishing-boats are trawling: Autumn is here.

The jay among the rocks is screaming, And every way with crimson streaming: Far up the shore the foam is creaming:Sleep fills the Year.

The chipmunk on the stones is barking; The red leaf every path is marking, Where hills lean to the ocean harking: Autumn is here.

The fields are starry with the aster, Where Beauty dreams and dim Disaster Draws near through mists that gather faster: Farewell, sweet Year.

Beside the coves driftwood is burning, And far at sea white sails are turning: Each day seems filled with deeper yearning: Autumn is here.

'Good-bye! good-bye!" the Summer's saying:"Brief was my day as songs of Maying: The time is come for psalms and praying: Good-bye, sweet Year."

Brown bend the ferns by rock and boulder; The shore seems greyer; ocean older: The days are misty; nights are colder: Autumn is here.

The cricket in the grass is crying,And sad winds in the old woods sighing; They seem to say, "Sweet Summer's dying:Weep for the Year.

"She's wreathed her hair with bay and berry, And o'er dark pools, the wild-fowl ferry, Leans dreaming 'neath the wilding cherry: Autumn is here.

"Good-bye! good-bye to Summer's gladness: To all her beauty, mirth and madness: Come sit with us and dream in sadness: So ends the Year."