Poems (Edwards)/The Two Leaves
THE TWO LEAVES.
'Twas autumn, and the crimson leaves Were falling thick and fast,And o'er the brow of nature sad, A gloomy look was cast.
She seemed to mourn the falling leaves That long had been her pride,And wept above the flowers that drooped And perished 'side by side.
With silent step, at twilight hour, I sought a lone retreat,And sighed to hear the wither'd leaves Fall rustling at my feet.
And there, in that sequestered spot, I sat me down to rest,To watch awhile the crimsoned clouds That lingered in the west.
It was a mournful silent hour, The autumn wind swept by,As though 'twas mourning for the year That soon, alas! would die.
The birds had ceased their carollings, And far away had sped,The flowers no longer bloomed around, Their fragrance all was dead.
Above me, trembling in dismay, A withered leaflet hung,Whilst near it, on a bending spray, Its proud green neighbour swung..
"Why, why," cried he, with looks of scorn, "My friend! you look so pale?I fear you'll have a dreadful fall, In this tempestuous gale.
Such doleful sighs I cannot bear, Be quiet if you can,And if you perish, why, be firm, And perish like a man."
The trembling leaf, with stricken heart His neighbour's scoffings heard,And every feeling of despair, Within his breast was stirred.
"Unfeeling one!" at length he cried, "Your cruel tauntings spare,Remember! you must perish too, It boots you to prepare."
Just then a proud and chilling blast Came whistling loudly by,The leaflet bowed his head, resigned, And died without a sigh.
"Ho! ho!" his neighbour loud exclaimed, "My friend! art dead so soon?While I am left to flutter here In all life's glorious bloom?
Full many a day is left to me, And many an hour of joy,Ere autumn's chilling blight will come My beauty to destroy.
And while below me, cold and dead, My meaner neighbours lie,I'll triumph here till every bird Has left the autumn sky."
Another chilling blast swept o'er That leaf so proud and gay,He struggled bravely for his life, And loudly plead to stay.
But, heedless of his prayers and cries, Old Boreas laid him down,Among his long despised friends, To moulder on the ground.
With an important lesson stamped Upon my heart and mind,I rose and left the fallen leaves And that lone place behind.
And now, when foolish human pride Within my heart would swell,I turn me to the withered leaves And read the moral well.