Poems (Kennedy)/Goodbye Summer

by Sara Beaumont Kennedy

GOODBYE, SUMMER

(AUG. 31, 1918)

GOOD-BYE, Summer, with the golden smile,
  With fruited bough and song of bird,
  With whispers only lovers heard
       Or lovers spoke—

Good-bye, good-bye.
  Good-bye, Summer, with your pale white stars
  Washed in the moon of twilight skies—
       With dreams that walked with half-shut eyes

Across the hills—
  Good-bye, good-bye.
  Good-bye, Summer, with your roads unwound
       Like dust-gray skeins where thistles drift,

And where our pilgrim thoughts ran swift
  To unseen goals—
  Good-bye, good-bye.
       Good-bye, Summer, with your sweetheart soul,

Your welded faith or broken tryst,
  Your red rose lovers' lips have kissed
  And left to fade—
       Good-bye, good-bye.

Good-bye, Summer, with your memories dear,
  Your close hand-clasp, your tender smile;
  Your ghost will walk full many a mile
       With us throughout the years—
              Good-bye, good-bye.