Poems Teachers Ask For Volume II Part 70

An afternoon of buzzing flies.

Heat waves that sear, and quivering rise; The long white road, the plodding team, The deep, cool gra.s.s in which to dream; The distant cawing of the crows, Tall, waving grain, long orchard rows; The peaceful cattle in the stream-- Midsummer's dream!

AUTUMN

A cold, gray day, a lowering sky, A lonesome pigeon wheeling by; The soft, blue smoke that hangs and fades, The shivering crane that flaps and wades; Dead leaves that, whispering, quit their tree, The peace the river sings to me; The chill aloofness of the Fall-- I love it all!

WINTER

A sheet of ice, the ring of steel, The crunch of snow beneath the heel; Loud, jingling bells, the straw-lined sleigh, A restless pair that prance and neigh; The early coming of the night, Red glowing logs, a shaded light; The firelit realm of books is mine-- Oh, Winter's fine!

_Ramona Graham._