The frightened herds of clouds across the sky br Trample the sunshine down, and chase the day br Into the dusky forest-lands of gray br And sombre twilight. Far and faint, and high, br The wild goose trails his harrow, with a cry br Sad as the wail of some poor castaway br Who sees a vessel drifting far astray br Of his last hope, and lays him down to die. br The children, riotous from school, grow bold br And quarrel with the wind whose angry gust br Plucks off the summer-hat, and flaps the fold br Of many a crimson cloak, and twirls the dust br In spiral shapes grotesque, and dims the gold br Of gleaming tresses with the blur of rust.