I Sing of Autumn

I sing of Autumn and her sister Fall:
   As days grow short and Summer speeds away,
   And captures dying leaves against the wall,
   She comes most gently, bit by bit each day
   Till Summer's languid hold and heat decay.
   Then banners flung, unfurled against the sky,
   Bedecked in colors, sights, and sounds, display
   The passing of fair Summer's long "Good-bye"—
A glorious emblem heralding Winter's battle cry!

- D. Benning

O Summertime!

Knaresborough England, Sherry Lynn

O Summertime, with warm embrace,
  Enchanted time with leafy lace,
Whose squeeze of heat makes days grow long,
  Whose nights are warm and filled with song,
Yes, your embrace which long held sway,
  Infused each bloom and flow'ry spray,
Has now grown weak and trending frail;
  Your short'ning days with colors pale.
You grasp at time but days rush past,
  Leaves tired of life soon brown are massed.
Yet vainly you would try to stall,
  The coming footsteps of the Fall
Or Autumn with her captive hue—
  When with one blow your works shall strew.
O Summer, you must give way soon,
  And Nature shall to Fall atune!

- D. Benning

Tree Lover's Collection, Sherry Lynn

The Last Rose of Summer

The last rose of summer,
  fragrant blossom and frail dainty,
Fall is upon us and your beauty will soon expire,
  falling finally from faded, flaccid form.
Yet bold you adventure to come forth now,
  to grow and glow and burst with beauty bright
  to cheerf'lly decorate the dying landscape with your joy,
  while all about you collects the dusty leaves of yesterday.
Yet you will fade and fall:
  Autumn's winds and Winter's rains
  will wash all memories of you from this place;
  and in stark pose, the denuded rose
     will stand in deathly cold and spiny salute to its fallen flowers.
    
- D. Benning