You Lingering Sparse Leaves of Me

You lingering sparse leaves of me on winter-nearing boughs, And I some well-shorn tree of field or orchard-row; You tokens diminute and lorn⁠—(not now the flush of May, or July clover-bloom⁠—no grain of August now;) You pallid banner-staves⁠—you pennants valueless⁠—you overstay’d of time, Yet my soul-dearest leaves confirming all the rest, The faithfulest⁠—hardiest⁠—last.

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