Autumn Song.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 September 1901, Page 938

Autumn Song.

EARLY MORNING BY LAKE TE KOUTU.

Through the cold mist along the range The great Sun raised his head. A ray lit up the poplar spires, The frost gripped once and fled.

It was the Autumn of the year, Methought it was the Spring. I walked beside the lake that lies Like a glass in a golden ring.

*' The young year sows his pregnant seed If Winter never lays her knife While the old year binds his sheaves. Across this happy plain I see the young birds swelling high Then hey! for all the joys of life — Above the dying leaves. You'll see me soon again."

The mist wreaths smoked along the lake There swooped and dipped a flight of fowl, And through the rushes sere And in the crystal cup Like ghosts of writhing watersnakes A flight of shadows grew, and then On an enchanted mere ; Each image fluttered up,

The gold was drifting from the trees — But each was fall of song ; The Thrushes sang as though they knew Spring could not tarry long.

And bird and shadow, mated, swam In a gold and azure ring — It was the Autumn of the year But the land was full of Spring.

B.K