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143
AUTUMN LEAVES;
OR, “TONGUES IN TREES.”
In peaceful solitude they flutter down,
And strew the sylvan pool and lichened rock;
Deck'd in all shades of orange, red, and brown,
Which sober green with painted glories mock.
And strew the sylvan pool and lichened rock;
Deck'd in all shades of orange, red, and brown,
Which sober green with painted glories mock.
Spring-time can boast its wealth of blossoms fair,
The Summer umbrage like an emerald glows;
But Autumn's mild decay illumes the air
With splendours which no other season knows.
The Summer umbrage like an emerald glows;
But Autumn's mild decay illumes the air
With splendours which no other season knows.
Oh, may the hope of my declining hour
Be seen to brighten with departing breath;
And like the leaves in an autumnal bower
Take lustre from the gentle touch of Death.
Be seen to brighten with departing breath;
And like the leaves in an autumnal bower
Take lustre from the gentle touch of Death.
144
Then, like the leaves, I must my part fulfil
Through all the passage of Life's fleeting year;
In shine or shade, in stormy days or still,
At lightsome noontide, or at midnight drear.
Through all the passage of Life's fleeting year;
In shine or shade, in stormy days or still,
At lightsome noontide, or at midnight drear.
Those patient leaves have kept their steadfast place,
Or only to Æolian music stirred;
Have fanned with cooling shade the traveller's face,
Or screened the secret of a brooding bird.
Or only to Æolian music stirred;
Have fanned with cooling shade the traveller's face,
Or screened the secret of a brooding bird.
And cannot I some helpful influence shed,
Some shelter offer, or some shadow throw;
Comfort some anxious heart, or aching head,
While from my grateful lips sweet praises flow?
Some shelter offer, or some shadow throw;
Comfort some anxious heart, or aching head,
While from my grateful lips sweet praises flow?
And as those arching boughs of crimson tint
Give to the light a beauty not its own;
While through the coloured leaves the sunbeams glint
On shining water or on mossy stone;
Give to the light a beauty not its own;
While through the coloured leaves the sunbeams glint
On shining water or on mossy stone;
145
So when my life sinks low on fluttering wing
May light surround me from the ensanguined Tree,
Through healing leaves a cheering radiance fling
And bathe my soul in hues of Calvary!
May light surround me from the ensanguined Tree,
Through healing leaves a cheering radiance fling
And bathe my soul in hues of Calvary!
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