Poems (Blake)/In Autumn

by Mary Elizabeth Blake

For works with similar titles, see In Autumn.

IN AUTUMN.

The golden haze of Autumn creeps and dallies
 Above the far horizon's misty rim;
The golden lights of Autumn fire the valleys,
 While summer's fading beauties pale and dim.

And mellowed to a pure and deeper measure,
 The murmuring wind sings lullabies of rest,
Low crooning to the safe and garnered treasure
 That lies secure on Nature's loving breast.

Forgot in happier sense of full fruition,
 The grime and heat of labor's unrest cease;
Earth sleeps from all the dreams that wait ambition,
 And joins with heaven in one fair hymn of peace.

On what blest scene of love and joy supernal,
 Beyond Time's changes safe and far away,
Do thy dear eyes, made glad with life eternal,
 O child beloved! look out and rest to-day?

What change has crept above thy boyish beauty?
 What joys have added sweetness to thy smile?
What unknown bliss of higher hope and duty
 Has crowned the brow we knew and kissed erewhile?

And how are they—the well-beloved and cherished—
 Who by thy side have sought the land beyond,
Beside whose graves life's fairest dreams have perished,—
 Are they still ours, the darlings fair and fond?

Thy brothers' voices in mine ear are ringing,
 Their footsteps bound above the sun-brown sod,
But O for one swift glance, where, gladly springing,
 Thy white feet press the happy fields of God!

O for one instant wild with bliss immortal,
 And mad with fullness of delight and pain,
To enter in at heaven's unguarded portal,
 And catch the love-light of thine eyes again!

Sometime! sometime! O God, that dealeth kindly,
 The day must come when grief and tears shall cease,
And life's torn hearts, that weep and smile so blindly,
 Rest in the autumn sweetness of Thy peace.