October’s Party

Posted October 2nd, 2009 by Jen in education, features, poetry

Autumn_Leaves2This painting Autumn Leaves by John Everett Millais (1856) fits the following poem so well. I can just imagine that these are my own four children gathering leaves and admiring their beauty. These girls in the long velvet dresses may not be thinking of jumping in the pile of leaves, but that would be the first thing my own kids would do.
As I’ve been searching for some enjoyable fall activities for the kids, I came across the poem “October’s Party” by George Cooper. It’s a great one to have children memorize, especially if there is a fall festival where they can recite it for a group. Here is the poem, full of delightful personification and imagery.

October’s Party
by George Cooper

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came—
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly “hands around.”

Isn’t that just entertaining to read aloud? I love it!

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8 Responses

  1. e-Mom October 4th, 2009 at 10:16 am

    Lovely! A delight to the eye and mind. :~D

  2. Tipper October 6th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Loved the poem-and the painting!

  3. Rae October 13th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    Ahhhhh! I love the idea of the girls in long velvet dresses jumping into the pile of leaves. Maybe the red-haired one will pick up the youngest and toss her in?

  4. Dad @ Kintropy October 18th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    That’s a great poem for the season. Thanks for sharing it!

  5. Beverly October 26th, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    I read this poem 2 years ago on the window of a children’s botique while visiting our then new-born granddaughter in CT. Loved it then – love it more now, after experiencing one of the most beautiful Octobers ever! I couldn’t remember the 2nd & 3rd sections, so thank you for posting it all.

  6. Patricia Krull October 29th, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    One of my favorite childhood poems!

    Patricia Krull
    Poet.
    “The Fallen Soldier.”

  7. Pauline Brousseau October 1st, 2011 at 5:54 am

    I am turning 80 on October 19. Learned this poem as a child . Love it . It is always running thru my head come fall. Thank you for the post.

  8. Linda Rodriguez-Ross, RN October 10th, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    Love the picture & poem. The 4 girls in their long velvet dresses remind me of the 4 sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s beloved book, Little Women: Meg, Jo, Beth, & Amy March. Simply a lovely post….

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