Autumn Melody

In the autumn days, the days of parting,
Days that in a golden silence fall,
When the air is quick with bird-wings starting,
And the asters darken by the wall;

Strong and sweet the wine of heaven is flowing,
Bees and sun and sleep and golden dyes;
Long forgot is budding-time and blowing,
Sunk in honeyed sleep the garden lies.

Spring and storm and summer midnight madness
Dream within the grape but never wake;
Bees and sun and sweetness, -- oh, and sadness!
Sun and sweet that reach the heart -- and break.

Ah, the pain at heart forever starting,
Ah, the cup untasted that we spilled
In the autumn days, the days of parting!
Would our shades could drink it, and be stilled.