the lovers they were gone

i had a lovely bike ride this evening,

following the course of the otonabee river north

and then looping back south to rejoin it.

the paths and roads were almost

entirely silent.

time stopped.

~

the sun sank low and golden

behind the bright red sumac leaves

as i climbed back over the hills to my home.

it was late, late in the evening,   

the lovers they were gone; 

the clocks had ceased their chiming,   

and the deep river ran on.

excerpted from "as i walked out one evening" 

w.h. auden