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Come, Little Leaves
by
George Cooper


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“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day,
“Come o'er the meadows with me and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold.”

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
singing the glad little songs they knew.

“Cricket, goodbye, we’ve been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song;
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah, you will miss us, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
fondly we watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?”

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went;
Winter had called them, and they were content;
soon, fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a coverlid over their heads.


This poem is in the public domain.

 



George Cooper (1840 – 1927) was born in New York City. He began writing as a child and, by the age of 16, was publishing poems in leading magazines.  He studied law and practiced for several years, but eventually decided to pursue a career as a writer. He wrote a number of hymns and much of his work was targeted at children. Stephen Foster set many of George’s lyrics to music; the best known is probably “Sweet Genevieve.”

 

 


Post New Comment:
ginawynn:
Lost Song I've had this song that my grandmother would sing to me in my head for 63 years. Never knew where it came from - but I think of it every fall with fond memories. What a sweet surprise to find the source of my grandmother's song at last.
Posted 04/06/2023 08:24 PM
Memories:
My father's mother (1896 - 1979) recited this poem to my father (1926 - 2007). He sang this poem on radio when he was very young. He then would sing it to his four dauthers. I sang this poem to my daugther (b. 1991) before bed and now she is singing it to my new grandson (b.8/2022). This poem is now a family legacy. Hopefully for more years to come.
Posted 10/20/2022 09:40 AM
dansymonds:
I can remember clear as a bell seeing my elderly grandmother 60 years ago sitting by the window, struggling to mend something with her poor eyesight, softly singing to herself this song from her childhood. The remembrance brings tears to my eyes. And you can envision her as a child twirling around and dancing pretending to be a leaf. A very perfect child's poem. Dan Symonds
Posted 10/12/2022 03:55 PM
Sparky7ll:
My twin brother, Raymond, loved this poem. Our Auntie Daisy used to recite it to us. I did not know that there were a few more verses which I have now committed to memory. Sadly, just after our 7th birthday, Ray died of leukemia. Whenever l hear this poem it brings back happy memories.
Posted 07/16/2022 11:48 AM
Maureen Mulvany :
I was just sitting here thinking about my mother who just passed and felt a warm memory of her singing this to me as a child every Fall. Mom was 102.
Posted 05/12/2022 07:36 PM
JosieB:
I have composed and recorded a new tune for this poem https://youtu.be/kVqMTNUJqVo
Posted 03/17/2022 08:55 AM
JosieB:
I have composed and recorded a new tune for this poem https://youtu.be/kVqMTNUJqVo
Posted 03/17/2022 08:55 AM
lumatthews4@gmail.com:
I had to learn this poem in 4th grade at my boarding school in Dobbs Ferry NY and to this day I remembered it. I am 92 years old.
Posted 12/02/2021 02:02 PM
Rhoda Hall:
My mother Maureen N Miller use to sing this to us every night before bed time. I loved to listen to her beautiful voice as a closed my eyes and fell a sleep. Rhoda HaLl
Posted 12/12/2020 01:46 PM
bggboone:
My father, a child of the depression, memorized this poem. Every Fall on the day that the coldfront blew-in to South Mississippi with leaves whirling in the wind, he recited this poem to my sister and me. Now that we can find everything at our finger tips, I am even more impressed with his love for this poem.
Posted 11/15/2020 06:26 PM
BARBARAS@JUNCT.COM:
My Mother and Grandmother recited this poem to me when I was a very young child and I've always wondered where it came from... now I know... Thanks...very dear memories...
Posted 10/15/2020 03:20 PM
Feiring:
Such a nice one!
Posted 09/25/2020 04:33 PM
SweetiePieKids02:
This is very pretty. Also, a Canadian single mom and songwriter made her own version.
Posted 09/02/2020 11:23 AM
Jancan:
So beautiful, sweet, and appealing! I'm smiling really BIG!
Posted 10/30/2019 11:02 AM
Wilda Morris:
One of my favorite autumn poems!
Posted 10/29/2019 08:40 AM
Larry Schug:
Poetry-the speech of the gods!
Posted 10/28/2019 09:27 PM
cork:
I do love rhythm and rhyme in poetry.
Posted 10/28/2019 08:58 AM
KevinArnold:
The opening line is delightful.
Posted 10/28/2019 08:48 AM
michael escoubas:
Wonderful post, Jayne. What I like about this and other poems written in Cooper's era, is the master-craftsmanship of form coupled with a delightful sojourn into nature's beauty. Refreshing way to begin the day.
Posted 10/28/2019 08:08 AM


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