Directions for Farewell
by ROBERT P. TRISTRAM COFFIN
How shall we say farewell to Summer,
The painted and prodigal?—lt;br/Dust the bluest of her skies
On frost flowers on the hill.
The painted and prodigal?—lt;br/Dust the bluest of her skies
On frost flowers on the hill.
Embalm a bee in golden light
Of a squash-flower’s bloom,
Let a single echoing hound
On mountains bay her doom.
Of a squash-flower’s bloom,
Let a single echoing hound
On mountains bay her doom.
Paint the maples red for death
And yellow for despair,
Make a turquoise of the sky,
An amber of the air.
And yellow for despair,
Make a turquoise of the sky,
An amber of the air.
Silence every cricket’s song.
Seal the frog’s green mouth.
Head each rainbow of a bird
Bright-eyed towards the south.
Seal the frog’s green mouth.
Head each rainbow of a bird
Bright-eyed towards the south.
Let furry creatures brown with sun
Creep into their holes,
Let men’s thoughts turn sad and deep,
Cautions as t he moles.
Creep into their holes,
Let men’s thoughts turn sad and deep,
Cautions as t he moles.
Hang quiet on the doomlit year
For our lovely lost,
Under the high cold morning star
Write epitaphs of frost.
For our lovely lost,
Under the high cold morning star
Write epitaphs of frost.