Something Told the Wild Geese
What with the rain, scattering leaves, and the kind of dark sky that comes with fall, the Quimper Hittys are feeling Autumnal today…. they are reminded of one of their favourite poems by Rachel Field (also the author of Hitty – Her First Hundred Years).
November morning
.
.
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 spice,
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 Lyman Field
.
.
Quimper Hittys 
oh my…that was just wonderful. I have always loved that poem and the melancholy feel of this time of year. Thank you so much for reminding me and causing me to just sit and consider. …and to dig out my poetry books!!
You are welcome – it is that time of year alright…
Beautiful! I have several of Rachel’s books, but I don’t remember this poem. Thank you for posting it!
I first heard it sung by the children in our church choir – it was lovely.
I can imagine the QHs reciting this poem as they kick leaves and crunch ice on puddles in the fall wanderings.
Yes, I think they will!
The poem is so beautiful and so true – Animals and birds sense the change of the season and react accordingly. We see Canadian geese stopping by our lakes on their migratory route. That is a lovely poem by Rachel Field.
It is a lovely evocative poem, though not entirely descriptive of our area. There are lots of geese and swans around here too but they have arrived to stay for the winter, having escaped the much harsher frozen arctic winter. Our winters are mild in temperature, though dark and wet.