Leaf on leaf on leaf descending,
All around and never ending,
Till the trees, once hot in dresses,
Naked now, feel wind’s caresses;
Unashamed, stand in glory,
List’ning for old Winter’s story,
Which he’ll tell them, flake by flake—
Coldly told, with no mistake.
All will hear and some will fall,
Weakest branches, he takes all;
Some will bend and some will snap,
Some will sleep a month’s-long nap,
Waiting for the rise of Spring,
Brand new buds to pop, to bring
Leaf on leaf on leaf ascending,
All around and never ending.