Ichabod

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 1 October 1927, Page 235

Ichabod

Mysterious silence broods upon the air, A sense of loss — a haunting wraith of grief, As Autumn's radiant robe falls, leaf by leaf, And incense of dead flowers floats everywhere. 0 stately trees, your vesture stript away, Do ye not need it most m wintertide? Why could ye not remain thus glorified To gladden earth when skies were dread and grey?

Beautiful leaves, falling without a sound, Circling and fluttering, floating slowly down, Rich hues of purple, crimson, gold and brown, — A wealth of beauty wasted on the ground! With ye, the hopes that made sweet summer bright — Thoughts, friendships, joys, are withered now and gone — Ah! Earth was very fair to look upon Till sunset splendour faded into night!

The Tree of Life is not an evergreen ; Its leaves must fall and die and bud again When winter's snow melts m the spring's warm rain Whatever has been, will be, or might have been! .._ ...- - ; — U M. MacdpnaM.