A Favourite Fall Poem

Something Told The Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go.

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, luster-glossed,

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spices

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly -

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry.

Rachel Field

We had to memorise this in Gr. 3 and I still know it! As a teacher, I have taught it and it actually has a tune that I can sing to with my guitar.