Old October

Dear Friends,

"Old October"

Old October's purt' nigh gone,

 

And the frost is comin' on

Little heavier every day-

Like our hearts is thataway!

Leaves is changin' overhead

Back from green to gray and red

Brown and yeller, with their stems

Loosenin' on the oaks and e'ms,

And the balance of the trees

Gettin' balder every breeze-

like the heads were scratchin' on!

 

Old October's purt' nigh gone.

I love Old October so,

I can't bear to see her go-

Seems to me like losin' some

Old-home relative er chum-

'Pears like sort o' settin' by

Some old friend 'at sigh by sigh

Was a-passin' out o' sight

Into everlasting night!

Hickernuts a feller hears

Rattlin' down is more like tears

Drappin' on the leaves below-

I love Old October so!

  
~James Whitcomb Riley