A Day

[Verse 1] Talk not of sad November, when a day Of warm, glad sunshine fills the sky of noon, And a wind, borrowed from some morn of June, Stirs the brown grasses and the leafless spray. [Verse 2] On the unfrosted pool the pillared pines Lay their long shafts of shadow: the small rill, Singing a pleasant song of summer still, A line of silver, down the hill-slope shines. [Verse 3] Hushed the bird-voices and the hum of bees, In the thin grass the crickets pipe no more; But still the squirrel hoards his winter store, And drops his nut-shells from the shag-bark trees. [Verse 4] Softly the dark green hemlocks whisper: high Above, the spires of yellowing larches show, Where the woodpecker and home-loving crow And jay and nut-hatch winter’s threat defy. [Verse 5] O gracious beauty, ever new and old! O sights and sounds of nature, doubly dear When the low sunshine warns the closing year Of snow-blown fields and waves of Arctic cold! [Verse 6] Close to my heart I fold each lovely thing The sweet day yields; and, not disconsolate, With the calm patience of the woods I wait For leaf and blossom when God gives us Spring! Traditional American acoustic folk, warm intimate male baritone, gentle fingerpicked acoustic guitar, subtle mandolin, soft fiddle accents, light harmonica, relaxed 4/4 rhythm around 82 BPM, reflective autumn afternoon atmosphere, rustic New England countryside, bittersweet but hopeful mood, natural storytelling vocals, organic vintage recording character, gradual melodic development, understated emotional delivery, peaceful hopeful ending, clear natural English pronunciation, preserve the original lyrics, 3 to 4 minutes, no pop drums, no electronic instruments, no glossy country production.