Autumn Song

I made a ring of leaves

On the autumn grass:

I was a fairy queen all day.

Inside the ring, the wind wore sandals

Not to make a noise of going.

The caterpillars, like little snow men,

Had wound themselves in their winter coats.

The hands of the trees were bare

And their fingers fluttered.

I was a queen of yellow leaves and brown,

And the redness of my fairy ring

Kept me warm.

For the wind blew near,

Though he made no noise of going,

And I hadn't a close-made wrap

Like the caterpillars.

Even a queen of fairies can be cold

When summer has forgotten and gone!

Keep me warm, red leaves;

Don't let the frost tiptoe into my ring

On the magic grass!