ONE autumn-time I went into the woods When Nature grieves, And wails the drying up of the bright floods Of summer leaves. The rose had drawn the green quilt of the grass Over her head, And, taking off her pretty, rustling dress, Had gone to bed. And, while the wind went ruffling through her bower To do her harm, She lay and slept away the frosty hour, All safe and warm. The little bird that came when May was new, And sang her best, Had gone, -- I put my double hand into Her chilly nest. Then, sitting down beneath a naked tree, I looked about, -- Saying, in these, if there a lesson be, I'll spy it out. And presently the teaching that was meant I thought I saw, -- That I, in trial, should patiently consent To God's great law. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GREEK ARCHITECTURE by HERMAN MELVILLE THE MAGI by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS UNCLE OUT O' DEBT AN' OUT O' DANGER by WILLIAM BARNES ECHOES OF SPRING: 5 by MATHILDE BLIND REQUIESCIT by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT BURIED CITIES; FATHER CHARLES by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER FOUR EPISTLES: MIRACLE AT THE FEAST OF PENTECOST: 4 by JOHN BYROM |