University of Virginia Library

THE FALLING LEAF.

Thou shadower forth of all that e'er hath been,
Of all that shall be in this mortal scene—
Flit not yet by upon the passing breeze,
Circling around the half-denuded trees
With thy chill brethren—phantoms of their power,
Their pomp—their pride in summer's full blown hour,
As though in very mockery to remind
Of their dim change—thus fluttering on the wind
The shreds and fragments of their rich array,
Worn on a fairer, better-fortuned day.
Thou shadower forth of all that e'er hath been,
Or all that shall be on this mortal scene—
Not yet flit by, till I awhile have dwelt
On thy deep lessons, and their wisdom felt.
Emblem of all earth's children that have past
Through various paths to one same bourne at last—
Emblem of man—the lord of thought and will,
And of his restless generations still—
Emblem and shadow of all worlds that are!—
Ruled by the self-same laws, as glorious star,
Or systems of throng'd stars that sweep and shine,
And fill the Universe with light divine,
Thundering in music through the firmaments,
Each shaping out that course it ne'er repents.
A fore-ordained and traced and measured course,
Which these fulfil with never failing force—
Because, like thee, frail leaf, they but obey
The rule infallible—the perfect sway.
Oh! would thou wert man's emblem too in this,
So the true path he never more might miss—
Nor wander in benighted roughen'd way
Without a guide too fearfully astray!
But his proud heart resisteth still, and turns
From paths appointed and avoids and spurns
The Heavenly guide too oft that doth not force,
But prompts and points to the all perfect course.
Oh! let my Soul through this world's wrong and grief,
Submit in all things as this helpless leaf!
My life—my frame like this must fade and fall,
Would that my Soul like it might own thy thrall
Oh! thou eeternal law of truth and right,
Nor e'er rejoice in rash rebellion's might.