An Autumn Message

I sent to her an autumn leaf

     Which I with care had pressed;

And with it I, a four line verse

     To her dear self addressed.

“Dear one, this leaf of red and gold

     I send to prove I’m true;

I’ve pressed it very carefully,

     And wished the same were you.”

I waited for the maid’s reply,

     It came quite late today;

She thanked me for the autumn leaf,

     And then went on to say:

“Your words were a delight to read,

     And were no doubt, well meant;

But, sir, I wouldn’t want to be

     Pressed like the leaf you sent.”

Oct. 13, ‘10