Said the leaves upon the branches
One sunny autumn day,
"We've finished all our work, and now
We can no longer stay.
So our gowns of red and yellow
And our cloaks of sober brown
Must be worn before the frost comes
And we go rustling down.
We've had a jolly summer
With the birds that built their nests
Beneath our green umbrellas and
The squirrels that were our guests.
But we cannot wait for winter,
And we do not care for snow,
When we hear the wild northwesters,
We loose our clasp and go.
But we hold our heads up bravely
Unto the very last
And shine in pomp and splendor as
Away we flutter fast.
In the mellow autumn noontide,
We kiss and say good-bye,
And through the naked branches then
May children see the sky."
