Gone Is Summer

Explore the seasons of life and hope through Howard Carleton Tripp's poetry.

spring will come again, and will wake to life once more.

Short Poems & Quotes | Poems | Poems About The Seasons | Winter Poems | January's Embrace

Updated December 21, 2024, by Catherine Pulsifer

Life’s journey is often compared to the changing seasons, with each one bringing its own challenges and beauty. In Gone Is Summer, Howard Carleton Tripp uses the imagery of nature to remind us of life’s cycles - of growth, rest, and renewal.

The poem beautifully captures the inevitability of life’s transitions, from the joy of childhood to the wisdom of age, and ultimately, the promise of a new beginning beyond this earthly life. It’s a heartfelt reflection on how even the coldest winters of life carry the hope of spring.

Gone Is Summer

Poet: Howard Carleton Tripp

Now the dreary winds may blow
Gone are all the summer hours,
And the chilling sleet and snow
Shrouds the sepulchre of flowers;
But the spring will come again,
And will wake to life once more
All the blossoms in the glen,
All the wavelets on the shore.

Thus is life: its stormy hours
Strengthen us for weal or woe;
And the summer's sun and showers
Yield to winter's ice and snow;
But when childhood's spring has fled
Summer gives her wealth of bloom,
While man's autumn soon is wed
To his winter's shrouded tomb.

But death's spring-time may appear
At the resurrection morn;
And the kind deeds we've done here
Be as blossoms newly born.
Then no more the winds shall blow,
Gone shall be life's trying hours;
And November's sleet and snow
Shall not blight the Eden flowers.

Key Points from this poem:

Seasons of Life Mirror Nature
Just as the seasons change, so do the stages of our lives. Winter may seem harsh with its cold winds and snow, but it strengthens us for brighter days ahead. Similarly, the storms we face in life - whether challenges or heartaches - prepare us to appreciate the blessings that follow. These trials shape our character, just as winter paves the way for the renewal of spring.

Life’s Transitions Lead to Renewal
Even though winter may shroud the beauty of summer, we hold on to the promise that spring will return. Life’s transitions are much the same; while we may face times of loss or difficulty, there is always hope for renewal and growth. Each season of life has its purpose, and the trials of one often lead to the blessings of another.

Eternal Hope Beyond Life’s Storms
The poem reminds us that death is not the end but a gateway to eternal spring. Just as winter does not last forever, the storms of life give way to peace and joy beyond this world. The kind acts we do and the love we share on earth will bloom like beautiful flowers in the gardens of eternity, where the harshness of life’s struggles will be no more.

More Winter Poems To Inspire

Related:

Winter Quotes - Discover inspiring quotes about winter’s beauty and resilience, perfectly complementing the themes of Gone Is Summer.

Poems About Strength - Explore poems that uplift and encourage inner strength, echoing the poem’s message of growing through life’s storms.

Poems About Challenges - Find verses that inspire perseverance during tough times, much like the trials symbolized in this heartfelt poem.

Spring Quotes - Celebrate the renewal and hope that spring brings, just as Gone Is Summer reminds us of life’s brighter seasons ahead.

Difficult Times Quotes - Draw strength from powerful quotes to navigate life’s struggles, reflecting the poem’s themes of endurance and faith.

Poems About Challenges - Dive deeper into poems that resonate with overcoming obstacles, a key message woven through this meaningful piece.