Print #61: Yellow Star Leaves

Glowing brightly in contrast to the blackness of the sky, these yellow star leaves radiate with the perfection of nature. Subtle shadows of the leaves in the background streak across the edges of these autumn wonders.

Inspirational Poems

Brooding Grief
D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930). Amores. 1916.

A YELLOW leaf from the darkness
Hops like a frog before me.
Why should I start and stand still?

I was watching the woman that bore me
Stretched in the brindled darkness 5
Of the sick-room, rigid with will
To die: and the quick leaf tore me
Back to this rainy swill
Of leaves and lamps and traffic mingled before me.

THE STARS ARE MANSIONS BUILT BY NATURE'S HAND
William Wordsworth 1820.

THE stars are mansions built by Nature's hand,
And, haply, there the spirits of the blest
Dwell, clothed in radiance, their immortal vest;
Huge Ocean shows, within his yellow strand,
A habitation marvellously planned,
For life to occupy in love and rest;
All that we see--is dome, or vault, or nest,
Or fortress, reared at Nature's sage command.
Glad thought for every season! but the Spring
Gave it while cares were weighing on my heart,
'Mid song of birds, and insects murmuring;
And while the youthful year's prolific art--
Of bud, leaf, blade, and flower--was fashioning
Abodes where self-disturbance hath no part.

Autumn Left Behind
Elizabeth (Akers) Allen. 1832–1911

IT was the autumn of the year!
The strawberry-leaves were red and sere,
October's airs were fresh and chill,
When, pausing on the windy hill,
The hill that overlooks the sea, 5
You talked confidingly to me,—
Me, whom your keen artistic sight
Has not yet learned to read aright,
Since I have veiled my heart from you,
And loved you better than you knew. 10

You told me of your toilsome past,
The tardy honors won at last,
The trials borne, the conquests gained,
The longed-for boon of Fame attained:
I knew that every victory 15
But lifted you away from me,—
That every step of high emprise
But left me lowlier in your eyes:
I watched the distance as it grew,
And loved you better than you knew. 20

You did not see the bitter trace
Of anguish sweep across my face;
You did not hear my proud heart beat
Heavy and slow beneath your feet:
You thought of triumphs still unwon, 25
Of glorious deeds as yet undone;
And I, the while you talked to me,
I watched the gulls float lonesomely
Till lost amid the hungry blue,
And loved you better than you knew. 30

You walk the sunny side of Fate;
The wise world smiles, and calls you great;
The golden fruitage of success
Drops at your feet in plenteousness;
And you have blessings manifold,— 35
Renown and power, and friends and gold.
They build a wall between us twain
Which may not be thrown down again.
Alas! for I, the long years through,
Have loved you better than you knew. 40

Your life's proud aim, your art's high truth,
Have kept the promise of your youth;
And while you won the crown which now
Breaks into bloom upon your brow,
My soul cried strongly out to you 45
Across the ocean's yearning blue,
While, unremembered and afar,
I watched you, as I watch a star
Through darkness struggling into view,
And loved you better than you knew. 50

I used to dream, in all these years
Of patient faith and silent tears,
That Love's strong hand would put aside
The barriers of place and pride,—
Would reach the pathless darkness through 55
And draw me softly up to you.
But that is past; if you should stray
Beside my grave some future day,
Perchance the violets o'er my dust
Will half betray their buried trust, 60
And say, their blue eyes full of dew,
"She loved you better than you knew."