When the leaves, by thousands thinned,
A thousand times have whirled in the wind,
And the moon, with hollow cheek
Staring from her hollow height,
Consolation seems to seek
From the dim, reechoing night;
And the fog-streaks dead and white
Lie like ghosts of lost delight
O’er highest earth and lowest sky;
Then, Autumn, work thy witchery!
– George Parsons Lathrop, “Incantation“ [excerpt]
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I really liked that, even though it makes me feel like I have a lot work to do before I start writing better.
J, I’m glad you enjoyed it. The keys to good writing are practice (practice, practice), editing what you write, and finding a friend who will read your work and give you honest feedback. Mr. Lathrop married Nathaniel Hawthorne’s daughter, so I bet he got all the feedback he wanted. 🙂
Love this poem!