I. br br WE stand among the fallen leaves, br Young children at our play, br And laugh to see the yellow things br Go rustling on their way: br Right merrily we hunt them down, br The autumn winds and we, br Nor pause to gaze where snow-drifts lie, br Or sunbeams gild the tree: br With dancing feet we leap along br Where wither'd boughs are strown; br Nor past nor future checks our song-- br The present is our own. br II. br br We stand among the fallen leaves br In youth's enchanted spring-- br When Hope (who wearies at the last) br First spreads her eagle wing. br We tread with steps of conscious strength br Beneath the leafless trees, br And the colour kindles on our cheek br As blows the winter breeze; br While, gazing towards the cold grey sky, br Clouded with snow and rain, br We wish the old year all past by, br And the young spring come again. br III. br br We stand among the fallen leaves br In manhood's haughty prime-- br When first our pausing hearts begin br To love 'the olden time;' br And, as we gaze, we sigh to think br How many a year hath pass'd br Since 'neath those cold and faded trees br Our footsteps wander'd last; br And old companions--now perchance br Estranged, forgot, or dead-- br Come round us, as those autumn leaves br Are crush'd beneath our tread. br IV. br br We stand among the fallen leaves br In our own autumn day-- br And, tott'ring on with feeble steps, br Pursue our cheerless way.