BETA

Waning.

The autumn days are waning, and the gold is on the
leaf,
1
The gold and crimson tint that paints with splendour
bright and brief
2
The grand old oaks. The copper-red is on the bending
beech,
3
The brown nuts rustle ripe and full above the school-
boy’s reach.
4
The swallows gather ’neath the eaves ; the first dull
cloudy day
5
Will bear them all, on eager wings, to sunnier climes
away :
6
So is it oft, with us, alas ! Our brief bright summer
ends,
7
Comes winter resolute and stern; away troop summer
friends.
8
The last rose blushes on her stem, in beauty all alone,9
Weeps summer gone, and sighs upon her solitary
throne ;
10
So is it with us at life’s end. What reck, or pomp, or
gold
11
If hairs grow grey, and we without some light of love,
grow old ?
12
Pray God, there be not, one of us, whoever he may be,13
Without some friend whom he may love, some child
upon his knee !
14
True love and friendship ever shine, with lustre all
their own,
15
Since man was never made to live, and work, and die—
alone !
16