If the autumn ended
Ere the birds flew southward,
If in the cold with weary throats
They vainly strove to sing,
Winter would be eternal;
Leaf and bush and blossom
Would never once more riot
In the spring.
If remembrance ended
When life and love are gathered,
If the world were not living
Long after one is gone,
Song would not ring, nor sorrow
Stand at the door in evening;
Life would vanish and slacken,
Men would be changed to stone.
But there will be autumn’s bounty
Dropping upon our weariness,
There will be hopes unspoken
And joys to haunt us still;
There will be dawn and sunset
Though we have cast the world away,
And the leaves dancing
Over the hill.
(John Gould Fletcher)
More Poetry from John Gould Fletcher:
John Gould Fletcher Poems based on Topics: Man, Spring, Life, World, Winter, Love, Birds, Eternity, Autumn- London Excursion (John Gould Fletcher Poems)
- White Symphony (John Gould Fletcher Poems)
- The Black Rock (John Gould Fletcher Poems)
- The Blue Symphony (John Gould Fletcher Poems)
- Green Symphony (John Gould Fletcher Poems)
- Lincoln (John Gould Fletcher Poems)