Volume 5 — Original. The Leaf of Last Year

I know I am dry and decayed; My skin is all yellow and sere; I know I ought not to have staid To become an old leaf of last year. You are youthful, and merry, and green. I feel like a stranger up here; And can see you're ashamed to be seen By the side of a leaf of last year. My wrinkled and shrivelled up face Excites you to laugh and to sneer; And the branch thinks that this is no place For an old-fashioned leaf of last year. I can tell, as you toss your proud heads, What you whisper in each other's ear: "Old leaves should be gone to their beds, 'Tis no time for a leaf of last year." You may flirt with the amorous winds; With your joys I will not interfere: But I'm sad; for my heart it reminds How they jilted a leaf of last year. Ay! flatter and laugh with the breeze, You may think that its love is sincere, But I know what it said to the trees When I was a young leaf last year. "Each one of these silly green leaves Is so flattered if I but come near, That she dances, and smiles, and believes I most surely will wed her this year. "With soft kisses the hours I beguile; And their prattling is pleasant to hear. When I tire, I depart with a smile And a promise to meet them next year." Then it came to my side with a bow, Embraced me, and called me its 'dear.' I was foolish to trust it, and now It forgets its old love of last year.

Away the false summer breeze hied; And my fibres all quivered with fear. One by one my mates withered and died, And left me alone till this year. Soon autumn will come with its blast. And your beauty will, too, disappear. When you think on the joys that are past, You'll remember the leaf of last year. This morn, when the sun rose, I wept; On my cheek lingers yet a bright tear: 'Twas a dew-drop fell there whilst I slept And was dreaming about the last year. Not long will I cumber the tree, For my hour of departure is near; And your beautiful branch will be free Of its faded old leaf of last year.