Fall

By Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926)

LORD: it is time. The summer was so grand.
Upon sundials now Thy shadow lay,
Set free Thy winds and send them o’er the land.

Command to ripen those last fruits of Thine;
And give them two more southern days of grace 5
To reach their perfect fullness, and then chase
The final sweetness into heavy wine.

Who now is homeless, ne’er will build a home.
Who now is lonely, long alone will stay,
Will watch and read and write long letters gray, 10
And in the long lanes to and fro will roam
All restless, as the drifting fall-leaves stray