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Poem
October 30, 1788
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
The poem 'The Fall of the Leaf' uses the scattering of autumn leaves as a metaphor to instruct humanity on the transience of glory, beauty, wealth, and life, drawing lessons for various groups like youths, misers, and elders, and urging pursuit of eternal life where no decay occurs.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Parnassian Spring.
The Fall of the Leaf.
Sons of men, ever from teaching,
Turn unto the woods your eyes,
Hear the lessons they are teaching,
They'll instruct you to be wise.
Where is now their boasted glory,
Leaves with which they did abound?
See them scatter'd all before you,
Lying withering on the ground.
Doctors skill'd in mystic pages,
Seeking truth tho' void of fame:
Wise and venerable sages,
Here's a moralizing theme:
Blooming virgins, charming creatures,
Blessed with a comely face,
Boast not of your fading features;
Summer gives to winter place.
Youths, though full of manly graces,
Know those flowers will swiftly waste
Time shall blight them on your faces,
Ye shall feel cold winter's blast.
Sons of port, with joy abounding
To your mirth the woods reply,
We, of late with songs resounding
Now in mournful silence lie.
Griping misers, greedy wretches,
We your very case express ;
We are stript of all our riches;
They forsake us in distress.
Reverend sires, with age grown hoary,
Think not life shall still remain ;
See in us your falling glory,
Falling ne'er to spring again,
Learn, O man, that grandeur's fading
Honours, like our leaves decay ;
We were happy, both, in Eden,
Now we swiftly fade away.
Then seek out that land eternal,
Where the tree of life doth grow :
There the leaf is ever vernal ;
There no winter tempests blow.
The Fall of the Leaf.
Sons of men, ever from teaching,
Turn unto the woods your eyes,
Hear the lessons they are teaching,
They'll instruct you to be wise.
Where is now their boasted glory,
Leaves with which they did abound?
See them scatter'd all before you,
Lying withering on the ground.
Doctors skill'd in mystic pages,
Seeking truth tho' void of fame:
Wise and venerable sages,
Here's a moralizing theme:
Blooming virgins, charming creatures,
Blessed with a comely face,
Boast not of your fading features;
Summer gives to winter place.
Youths, though full of manly graces,
Know those flowers will swiftly waste
Time shall blight them on your faces,
Ye shall feel cold winter's blast.
Sons of port, with joy abounding
To your mirth the woods reply,
We, of late with songs resounding
Now in mournful silence lie.
Griping misers, greedy wretches,
We your very case express ;
We are stript of all our riches;
They forsake us in distress.
Reverend sires, with age grown hoary,
Think not life shall still remain ;
See in us your falling glory,
Falling ne'er to spring again,
Learn, O man, that grandeur's fading
Honours, like our leaves decay ;
We were happy, both, in Eden,
Now we swiftly fade away.
Then seek out that land eternal,
Where the tree of life doth grow :
There the leaf is ever vernal ;
There no winter tempests blow.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Nature Seasons
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Fall Of Leaf
Transience
Moral Lesson
Nature Wisdom
Eternal Life
Poem Details
Title
The Fall Of The Leaf
Subject
Moral On The Transience Of Life From Falling Leaves
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas In Iambic Tetrameter
Key Lines
Sons Of Men, Ever From Teaching,
Turn Unto The Woods Your Eyes,
Hear The Lessons They Are Teaching,
They'll Instruct You To Be Wise.
Learn, O Man, That Grandeur's Fading
Honours, Like Our Leaves Decay ;
We Were Happy, Both, In Eden,
Now We Swiftly Fade Away.
Then Seek Out That Land Eternal,
Where The Tree Of Life Doth Grow :
There The Leaf Is Ever Vernal ;
There No Winter Tempests Blow.