Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By DanskeDandridge1342 The Spirit of the Fall
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Wild Spirit of the Fall!
With wind-blown skirts, loose hair of russet-brown,
Crowned with bright berries of the bitter-sweet.
Straining thy few late roses to thy breast,
With laughter over-gay, sweet eyes drooped down,
That none may guess thy grief.
Dare not to pause for rest
Lest the slow tears should gather to their fall.
The last numb crickets cease, and all is still,
Face down thou liest on the frosty ground
Strewed with thy fortune’s wreek, alas, thine all—
Lone Spirit of the Fall.