Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Poems by William Allingham (Author: William Allingham)

poem 11

Autumnal Sunset

  1. Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods,
    And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt,
    And night by night the monitory blast
    Wails in the key-hole, telling how it pass'd
    O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes,
    Or grim wide wave; and now the power is felt
    Of melancholy, tenderer in its moods
    Than any joy indulgent summer dealt.
    Dear friends, together in the glimmering eve,
    Pensive and glad, with tones that recognise
    The soft invisible dew in each one's eyes,
    It may be, somewhat thus we shall have leave
    To walk with memory, when distant lies
    Poor Earth, where we were wont to live and grieve.

    2. p.52