An October Afternoon / Rachel Annand Taylor

An October Afternoon

        Never again
                The world all gold,
                Repured and cold,
And carved like a great brazen incense cup!
                To gods of old
This rare barbaric perfume riseth up
        Never again.

        Never again
                Yon sorceries
                May burn the trees
That on the green horizon dream to death.
                Rich tears like these
Upon your lids: upon my lip such breath
        Never again!

~~
Rachel Annand Taylor (1876-1960)
from Poems, 1904

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada and the United States]

Rachel Annand Taylor biography