Explore "Before the End" by Madison Cawein on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
How does the Autumn in her mind conclude / The tragic masque her frosty pencil writes, / Broad on the pages of the days and nights, / In burning lines of orchard, wold, and wood? / What lonelier forms -- that at the year's door stood / At spectral wait -- with wildly wasted lights / Shall enter? and with melancholy rites / Inaugurate their sadder sisterhood? -- / Sorrow, who lifts a signal hand, and slow / The green leaf fevers, falling ere it dies; / Regret, whose pale lips summon, and gaunt Woe / Wakes the wild-wind harps with sonorous sighs; / And Sleep, who sits with poppied eyes and sees / The earth and sky grow dream-accessories.