The frost has settled down upon the trees

And ruthlessly strangled off the fantasies

Of leaves that have gone unnoticed swept like old

Romantic stories now no more to be told.

The trees down the boulevard stand naked in thought

Their abundant summery wordage silenced caught

In the grim undertow; naked the trees confront

Implacable winter’s long cross-questioning brunt.

Has some hand balanced more leaves in the depths of the twigs?

Some dim little efforts placed in the threads of the birch?—

It is only the sparrows like dead black leaves on the sprigs

Sitting huddled against the cerulean one flesh with their perch.

The clear cold sky coldly bethinks itself.

Like vivid thought the air spins bright and all

Trees birds and earth arrested in the after-thought

Awaiting the sentence out from the welkin brought.