Works in the Herald 1938
AUTUMN SONG
With the advent of the Autumn
Trees behave as Nature taught 'em;
   Maple, Sumach, Plum and Poplar, and the Chestnut known as Horse,
Ere they shed the Summer fashion,
Break into a perfect passion
   Of sweet rivalry in color (if deciduous, of course).

Autumn comes, and Claret Ashes,
Liquidambars, showing splashes
   From her palette, don the motley -- Joseph's coats of many a hue:
Russet-red and golden-yellow
As the season waxes mellow.
   As for me, like certain gum-trees, I perversely grow more blue.

I would quaff in ample measure
Every draught of Autumn's pleasure
   Were it not a grim foreboding spreads its color thro' the mind.
And I know that Autumn breezes
Bring the first hint of the wheezes;
   For, when Fall the Summer follows, Winter is not far behind.

Would I were like lucky mortals
Who, with Winter at the portals,
   Shed their ills like Autumn leaves and welcome days of snow and ice.
Still, why not accept the present?
Fall brings favors amply pleasant.
   Seat me -- Ishoo! -- id the sudlight. Autumb cad be very dice.

"Den"
Herald, 26 March 1938

Copyright © Perry Middlemiss 2002-06