The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
 | XI. |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
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| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
35
XII. RED LEAVES AND GREEN LEAVES
What is the whisper of the leaves
Round ruined turrets reddening fast,
Or nestling under cottage-eaves
While autumn winds go sighing past?
“Life is sorrow,” they whisper,
“Life is only a dream:
The sky seemed blue, but it was not true;
The sky is as grey as the stream!”
Round ruined turrets reddening fast,
Or nestling under cottage-eaves
While autumn winds go sighing past?
“Life is sorrow,” they whisper,
“Life is only a dream:
The sky seemed blue, but it was not true;
The sky is as grey as the stream!”
What is the whisper of the heart
When love and life have ceased to please,
When passion's fairy dreams depart
And cold winds rustle through the trees?
“Life is trouble,” it whispers,
“Trouble and wild despair:
Once love seemed bright, but at morning light
Love's face was no more fair!”
When love and life have ceased to please,
When passion's fairy dreams depart
And cold winds rustle through the trees?
“Life is trouble,” it whispers,
“Trouble and wild despair:
Once love seemed bright, but at morning light
Love's face was no more fair!”
36
Yet autumn leaves and troubled soul
May hardly read life's tale aright:
Green leaves shall crown the elm-tree bole
And love's joy shall outlive the night.
“Green leaves,” the red leaves whisper,
Fast falling one by one:
When night's stars die, behold the sky
Laughs out to see the sun!
May hardly read life's tale aright:
Green leaves shall crown the elm-tree bole
And love's joy shall outlive the night.
“Green leaves,” the red leaves whisper,
Fast falling one by one:
When night's stars die, behold the sky
Laughs out to see the sun!
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |