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1840–1928

THE UPPER BIRCH-LEAVES

Thomas Hardy

Warm yellowy-green In the blue serene, How they skip and sway On this autumn day!

They cannot know What has happened below, - That their boughs down there Are already quite bare,

That their own will be When a week has passed, - For they jig as in glee To this very last.

But no; there lies At times in their tune A note that cries What at first I fear

I did not hear: “O we remember At each wind's hollo - Though life holds yet -

We go hence soon, For‘ tis November; - But that you follow You may forget!”

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THE UPPER BIRCH-LEAVES · Thomas Hardy · Poetry Cove