Poems (Douglas)/Ere Young Leaves Spring again

by Sarah Parker Douglas

Ere Young Heaves Spring again.

The breeze of autumn sighing strewed
 The sear leaves o'er my path;
Deeply impress'd, I musing view'd
 The monitors of death.
The faded verdure found a tongue—
 "Oh ye," it seemed to cry,
"However strong, however young,
 Know you must surely die."
Yea, many that with buoyant tread
 Trip o'er the leaf-strewn plain,
Shall rest them in a lonely bed
 Ere young leaves spring again.

Not long since, from the fost'ring earth,
 'Mid showers and beams, we sprung;
Nature rejoiced at our birth,
 Each bird our welcome sung.
Night gave us drink of balmy dew,
 We fairer bloomed each day,
Each morning brought us strength anew—
 What thought we of decay?
We had not felt the blighting power
 Of autumn's sad breath then.
And oh! for many a human flower
 Ere young leaves spring again.

The eye of fire, where speaks the mind
 In language deep and strong;
The heart, where glows the thought refined
 Of rapture-breathing song.
The sunny smile, the voice of mirth,
 Like us, shall pass away,—
Alas! ye children of the earth,
 Ye bloom but to decay.
Yea, many a brow of beauty bright,
 Unknown to grief or pain,
Shall sleep a long, long dreamless night,
 Ere young leaves spring again.