dead leaves

dead leaves piled up in the slow steady rain

their reds and yellows dull on the dark ground

so much of sorrow is already plain

to us who listen as the boughs complain

at the winds passage with a sighing sound

dead leaves piled up in the slow steady rain

are one more sign of life's passing campaign

against eternity this is one round

so much of sorrow is already plain

and we're the losers since we never gain

a single inch nor hope for a rebound

dead leaves piled up in the slow steady rain

are but the markers of our lost terrain

someone will come and heap them in a mound

so much of sorrow is already plain

it is reality nothing arcane

our normal vista not a thing profound

dead leaves piled up in the slow steady rain

so much of sorrow is already plain