Now Autumn comes with cool, damp leaves a-fall;
They fall (they fall so soft), against the fence;
Against the fence, along the wall, they fall.
Some brown, some red, some yellow, all do fall,
As if falling were logical, made sense,
And all things grasp them—rocks and gutters, hands,
Hair and hats and wind, and open sky,
With coldness falling, too, to join the dance
Of Autumn—lovers laughing, eye to eye,
Their shined up faces happier now to be.
Blithe children leap, old dogs run; “Baby, see!
A tiny baby leaf has kissed your nose!”
Oh, Autumn, you don’t smell like some sweet rose,
But, earthier, tastier, you breathe before you go