The Autumn Queen

‘Twas on one moonlit Autumn night;

bright coloured leaves covered the ground,

when I beheld a wondrous sight;

a band of fairies dancing round.

And, as they danced, I saw appear,

a maid with flaming auburn hair.

She wore a gown of gold and red;

a crown of gold leaves on her head.

“I am the Autumn Queen”, said she

and hearing this, I took a chance.

“Please would you have a dance with me?”,

I asked and round and round we danced.

Fairies, on flutes and fiddles, played

while I whirled round with that young maid;

the harvest moon shone in her eyes

and by them I was mesmerized.

And because I could not resist,

her flaming crimson lips, I kissed

and love, within my heart, blazed bright

just like a Jack O’ Lanterns light.

But then, suddenly, she did seem

to melt away and disappear.

I wonder, was she just a dream,

my Autumn Queen with flame red hair?

Now every moonlit Autumn night,

a Jack O’ Lantern, I do burn

hoping fairies might see its light

and my Autumn Queen will return.