 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
A LESSON.
One autumn-time I went into the woods
When Nature grieves,
And wails the drying up of the bright floods
Of summer leaves.
When Nature grieves,
And wails the drying up of the bright floods
Of summer leaves.
The rose had drawn the green quilt of the grass
Over her head,
And, taking off her pretty, rustling dress,
Had gone to bed.
Over her head,
And, taking off her pretty, rustling dress,
Had gone to bed.
And, while the wind went ruffling through her bower
To do her harm,
She lay and slept away the frosty hour,
All safe and warm.
To do her harm,
She lay and slept away the frosty hour,
All safe and warm.
The little bird that came when May was new,
And sang her best,
Had gone,—I put my double hand into
Her chilly nest.
And sang her best,
Had gone,—I put my double hand into
Her chilly nest.
Then, sitting down beneath a naked tree,
I looked about,—
Saying, in these, if there a lesson be,
I'll spy it out.
I looked about,—
Saying, in these, if there a lesson be,
I'll spy it out.
And presently the teaching that was meant
I thought I saw,—
That I, in trial, should patiently consent
To God's great law.
I thought I saw,—
That I, in trial, should patiently consent
To God's great law.
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |