October
Sad and sober
Monk October
Comes in russet habit clad;
Sore relenting,
Loud repenting –
What a merry time he's had!
How the rafter
Rang with Laughter
In the Sylvan woods of June!
Now his Maying
Turns to praying
And he chants a solemn tune.
Base deceiver!
He's no griever;
All his seeming sorrowing,
All his chanting
Is but canting:
Lift his cowl – behold the Spring!
~~
James Lewis Millgan
from The Beckoning Skyline, and other poems, 1920
[Poem is in the public domain in Canada and the United States]
James Lewis Milligan biography
Perfect verse - apropos to the clime!
ReplyDeleteDid notice that there maybe a typo in the second line of the last stanza (griver vs griever)?
Excellent all the same!