 | The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley |  |
AN AUTUMN SERENADE
Before the tears of autumn shed
All leaves away at winter's door,
My queen, across the foliage tread
Of yellow gusty woodland floor;
And watch the squirrel overhead
In stories of her pine-trees hoar.
All leaves away at winter's door,
My queen, across the foliage tread
Of yellow gusty woodland floor;
And watch the squirrel overhead
In stories of her pine-trees hoar.
When only redbreast chirps thee on,
And fingered chestnut leaves are cast;
And gaudy greenwood gathers wan
On lime and beech, and sickens fast;
And acorns thicken paths upon,
And shrew-mice treasure winter mast.
And fingered chestnut leaves are cast;
And gaudy greenwood gathers wan
On lime and beech, and sickens fast;
And acorns thicken paths upon,
And shrew-mice treasure winter mast.
When plovers tremble up to cloud,
And starling legions whirl apace;
And redwing nations restless-loud
Are over every fallow's face;
And barren branches like a shroud
Blacken the sun-way's interspace.
And starling legions whirl apace;
And redwing nations restless-loud
Are over every fallow's face;
And barren branches like a shroud
Blacken the sun-way's interspace.
The winds, all summer idly dead,
Give prelude to their winter tune.
Grey hoar-frost hears them, from his bed
Lays out white hands, and wakens soon.
He laughs as soughing elm-trees shed
Old homes of breeding rooks in June.
Give prelude to their winter tune.
Grey hoar-frost hears them, from his bed
Lays out white hands, and wakens soon.
He laughs as soughing elm-trees shed
Old homes of breeding rooks in June.
| The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley | |