A gold front came through in the dark
and sprinkled poplar leaves behind
autumn's first mild fleeting lark
the next one will not be so kind

But on this day beneath warm sun
there's yellow scattered all around
along the road and old creek run
high in the trees and on the ground

Fall pasture's gilt with bitter weed
a carpet fringed with emerald grass
'ere long the blooms will turn to seed
when the first frost comes to pass

Ditches adorned with goldenrod
fields shining with the bright sun flowers
a gentle breeze oft makes both nod
as they await cool autumn showers

This time when fall has just begun
and golds and yellows first appear
like last gifts left by shrinking sun
announce the autumn ball is near