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.