The Fall of the Leaf

See the leaves around us falling, Dry and wither'd, to the ground, Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, In a sad and solemn sound;

" Sons of Adam, once in Eden, " 'Till like us he blighted fell, " Hear the lecture we are reading, " 'Tis alas! the truth we tell.

" Virgins, much, too much presuming " On your boasted white and red, " View us late in beauty blooming, " Number'd now among the dead.

" Griping misers, nightly waking, " See the end of all your care, " Fled on wings of our own making, " We have left our owners bare.

" Sons of honour, sed on praises, " Fluttering high in fancied worth, " Lo! the fickle air that raises, " Brings us down to parent earth.

" Learned sophs, in systems jaded, " Who for new ones daily call, " Cease at length, by us persuaded— " Every leaf must have its fall.

" Youths, tho' yet no losses grieve you, " Gay in health and manly grace, " Let not cloudless skies deceive you, " Summer gives to Autumn place.

" Venerable sires, grown hoary, " Hither turn th' unwilling eye, " Think, amidst your falling glory, " Autumn tells a Winter nigh.

" Yearly in our course returning, " Messengers of shortest stay, " Thus we preach this truth concerning, " Heaven and earth shall pass away."

" On the tree of life eternal, " Man, let all thy hopes be stay'd, " Which alone, for ever vernal, " Bears a leaf that shall not fade."