Autumn

Friedrich Hölderlin

The fleeing legends, which the Earth narrated
(of spirit that once was and is returning),
are turning toward humanity, so increased learning
can grow from times that long since dissipated.

What images once were, they were not banished
by Mother Nature, like her days that paled and vanished
amid high summer: When descends the autumn's power
the sky will show it as the spirit's shower.

In not much time has much been terminated:
The peasants, having proudly shown themselves as plowers,
see now that yet another year has joyfully abated -
just as abates the time in which the human flowers.

The Earth whose round with rocky mountains pleases
(unlike the whispy clouds dispersed by evening breezes)
reveals itself amid a day that's golden,
and perfect, and to no complaint beholden.