Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads/Two Months. In September
TWO MONTHS
In September
At dawn there was a murmur in the trees,
A ripple on the tank, and in the air
Presage of coming coolness—everywhere
A voice of prophecy upon the breeze.
Up leapt the Sun and smote the dust to gold,
And strove to parch anew the heedless land,
All impotently, as a King grown old
Wars for the Empire crumbling 'neath his hand.
One after one, the lotos-petals fell,
Beneath the onslaught of the rebel year
In mutiny against a furious sky;
And far-off Winter whispered:—"It is well!
"Hot Summer dies. Behold your help is near,
"For when men's need is sorest, then come I."