The Fading Flowers Of Autumn Poem by C Richard Miles

The rambling roses now twine tiredly round the porch
And, in the borders, dying dahlias feebly bow their heads
Awaiting soon the weary, worrisome approach
Of chilling breath whose whisper augurs dismal deaths.
Chrysanthemums still shine more bright to make their boast
To burst and bloom, though rooted in the cloying clay;
They still stand sure, resistant to the frosty foes
That steal the feebler flowers’ glamour all away.

For, though the days may grow more bitter, harsh and cold,
Some are determined they will win the distance race
To fast-approaching winter, as it threatens bold,
With grand displays of sprays endowed with gold and grace.
Their purple-coated comrades join their massing ranks
As Michaelmas approaches; dainty daisies state
Rare, royal-robed ambitions for the floral dance
And rush along to join the petal-jewelled spate.

But even these survivors in assorted hues
Of every rainbow colour underneath the sun
Will not prevail in battle and shall surely lose
The beauty that our gardens soon shall shun
When winter walks untrammelled through each open gate
And batters down each last surviving, tattered bloom
Until the first brave snowdropp dares to meet its fate
Above the trench’s parapet to end the gloom.