The cooling temperatures and crisp fall breezes have done their work in most of the United States. The leaves have fallen. Branches are bare or nearly there, and now is the time to gather them up in anticipation of the first snowfall.
Robert Frost, perhaps America’s most celebrated poet, went through the annual leaf-clearing ritual as well. Read his beautiful poem about it, and the next time you head out into the yard with your rake in hand, think of his words. Perhaps they will encourage you to look at a previous drudgery with a new appreciation and enjoyment.
Gathering Leaves
by Robert Frost
Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.
I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.
But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.
I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?
Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.
Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who’s to say where
The harvest shall stop?
We hope you enjoyed this wonderful poem. If you are getting ready to head out into the crisp fall weather to gather your own “crop” of leaves, enjoy the experience. It comes but once a year, and soon enough those snowflakes will start flying! Fortunately, your opportunity to enjoy great poetry is year-round. Check out IEW’s Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization for more great poetry to share with your family.
