Autumn brushed her golden hair
curling locks of auburn-red
as she shed the gold 'n fair
as she donned her white to wed

she swirled around for me to see
the colours cascade, as waves of sea,
her rain of auric crimson leaves
over hay and golden sheaves

and round about, upon the ground,
a scattered patchwork of earth's finest
clothes of copper, bronze 'n browns,
as befit her regnant highness

weathered skin of palest alabaster
with hints o' coral hue,
glistening dew on whitest plaster,
as cream of marbled statue

as she shed her harvest raiment
stark beauty in the sky
heady jasmine and cider scent
betray her unclad thigh

and he waited, bided time,
with snow and crystal'd silver
bedecking ice-king in his prime
still and patient Winter

wrapped himself in single sheet
of luminous, crystalline ice,
as he laid his ivory feet
on mount of edelweiss

for Autumn, she had melted
'fore his numinous gelidity
invisible she lay pelted
'neath his averous cupidity

he tapped his toe in single tone
in beat of coldest shiver
as in the moonlight, there alone
shot arrows from his quiver

darts of hail and blustering wind
his army of projectiles
hid benevolence as he grin'd
a warm, pulsating smile

for now sweet earth, beneath her blanket
of whitest, softest snow,
giveth forth roots for sumptuous banquet
sun shines on afterglow