Merry Autumn

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h4>MERRY AUTUMN</h4> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">It's all a farce,&mdash;these tales they tell</div> <br/> <div class="i1">About the breezes sighing,</div> <br/> <div class="i0">And moans astir o'er field and dell,</div> <br/> <div class="i1">Because the year is dying.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">Such principles are most absurd,&mdash;</div> <br/> <div class="i1">I care not who first taught 'em;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">There's nothing known to beast or bird</div> <br/> <div class="i1">To make a solemn autumn.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">In solemn times, when grief holds sway</div> <br/> <div class="i1">With countenance distressing,</div> <br/> <div class="i0">You'll note the more of black and gray</div> <br/> <div class="i1">Will then be used in dressing.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">Now purple tints are all around;</div> <br/> <div class="i1">The sky is blue and mellow;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">And e'en the grasses turn the ground</div> <br/> <div class="i1">From modest green to yellow.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">The seed burrs all with laughter crack</div> <br/> <div class="i1">On featherweed and jimson;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">And leaves that should be dressed in black</div> <br/> <div class="i1">Are all decked out in crimson.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">A butterfly goes winging by;</div> <br/> <span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></SPAN></span><div class="i1">A singing bird comes after;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">And Nature, all from earth to sky,</div> <br/> <div class="i1">Is bubbling o'er with laughter.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">The ripples wimple on the rills,</div> <br/> <div class="i1">Like sparkling little lasses;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">The sunlight runs along the hills,</div> <br/> <div class="i1">And laughs among the grasses.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">The earth is just so full of fun</div> <br/> <div class="i1">It really can't contain it;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">And streams of mirth so freely run</div> <br/> <div class="i1">The heavens seem to rain it.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">Don't talk to me of solemn days</div> <br/> <div class="i1">In autumn's time of splendor,</div> <br/> <div class="i0">Because the sun shows fewer rays,</div> <br/> <div class="i1">And these grow slant and slender.</div> <br/></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">Why, it's the climax of the year,&mdash;</div> <br/> <div class="i1">The highest time of living!&mdash;</div> <br/> <div class="i0">Till naturally its bursting cheer</div> <br/> <div class="i1">Just melts into thanksgiving.</div> <br/></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />