The leaves of many greats have turned,
Have reddened, have browned,
Still, the leaves of many others,
Spread across the ground,

This time again and time before,
Trees have fallen bare,
Autumn trees living later years,
Shed the leaves they wear,

Time to gather and time to keep,
Stores of precious meal,
All for the sake of the coming,
Threat of winter’s zeal,

The leaves have turned to warn us all,
All from men to mice,
The unrelenting winter theme,
Frost and snow and ice.